Jim's Jots and Tittles. . .
The Bible
For ages skeptics' blows have been upon God's word,Through the noise of following words we have heard.
God's word is still here unharmed,
Outlasting all those who were alarmed.
"Destroy it!" Said wicked men of every type.
But it remains a man's delight.
Trust it with all your heart.
The book will never depart.
When Peter spoke concerning the living and abiding word of the Lord, he quoted from Isaiah 40:8 – "the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."
From the time of Moses down to this very day, there have been men who have tried to destroy God's word. We see evidence almost every day. In 1776, Voltaire predicted – "100 years from my day there will not be a Bible in the earth except that is looked upon by some antique seeker."
Time certainly made a liar out of Voltaire. For centuries now there have been more Bibles in the world than any other book. It is said that the Bible has been translated into more than 800 languages. The New Testament itself is more than 1900 years old. Can these things be said about Voltaire's writings?
Communist Russia did everything in its power to keep Bibles from entering Russia. One farmer concealed thousands of Bibles under the hay in his barn for secret distribution. Bibles were smuggled in spare tires. Everyone was searched for Bibles when entering communist Russia.
But they could not destroy the desire the people of Russia had for the Bible.
Since communist Russia has ceased to exist, the Eastern European mission has printed the Bible in 20 languages and can distribute them openly. In the past decade, EEM has provided Bibles to schools in five states of Russia and two in the Ukraine. EEM has provided Bibles in the Ukraine and Russia for 2 million children in public schools.
In the Ukraine the Bible has become part of the public school program beginning with kindergarten, using the Bible to teach Christian ethics. And guess what – their crime rate has gone down. We are not allowed to use the Bible and classrooms in the US and our crime rate has gone up.
Truly Isaiah spoke correctly – "the word of our Lord stands forever." High school students have formed academic teams to test their Bible knowledge and its application to daily living. One 17-year-old said –"We know that Christianity is the greatest treasure we have. Now the people of Ukraine can believe in the God they want. People want to believe in the Master who loves us."
Does the Bible mean as much to us? Or do we take it for granted since we have never been without it? Do we really take to heart what Paul said in Romans 1:16 – "The gospel is God's power unto salvation." He really believe in change our lives as Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17 – "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness."
The people in former communist Russia have a hunger for God's word. Do we have the same hunger? It will judge us at the end of time! The New Testament is God's remedy for man's sins forever!
The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.
—Jim Hunt
