I certainly do not know the
statistics, but I wonder if people read very much today? I’m
talking about
books now, not newspapers, comic books, etc. Many books today can be read on
electronic devices. I suppose that counts, but it just doesn’t seem the same as
holding a real book in your hand.
The greatest book ever
written, and I guess the least read, would have to be the Bible. As the title
above says, it is God’s message to us. Have you ever wondered what God has to
say? Have you ever wondered what He is like? Maybe you have personal questions
or would like to know what is going to happen to us when this earthly life is
over.
Adrian Rogers once said, ““Someone
said, “The Bible is such a wonderful book. It is shallow enough that a little
child can come and get a drink without fear of drowning, and so deep that the
scholars can swim in it and never touch bottom.””
Sometimes my wife and I like
to read ‘legal thriller’ books written by a secular author that are very well
written. The author has the ability to pull you into the story simply by using
words, and has written many books. Several have even been made into movies
which have also been successful.
You just can’t beat the Bible
though. Now casual Bible readers will start nodding off to sleep about now, but
those who are serious about really getting into God’s Word just can’t get
enough.
The book of Revelation is
without doubt the least read book in the Bible, but it is the only one that
promises a blessing by doing so.
“Blessed is he who reads and
those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written in it; for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3)
If you want to know what the
future holds, there it is. It’s all packed into that one book … Revelation. But
that’s not all, there are several books within the Bible that tells us future
things, and the more we read them, the better we understand Revelation.
People often get discouraged
when reading the Bible, saying they just can’t understand it. Hey, no one, and
I mean NO ONE understands it all. Think about it. God, specifically Jesus
Christ, wrote it (John 1:1-5), so no one is going to completely understand God.
He is the Creator. We are the created. That would be like me trying to explain
how a computer works to a grasshopper. BUT … God wants us to understand it.
Otherwise, there would be no need for Him to write it.
The only way to really
understand the Bible as a Christian is to allow the Spirit of God, who we call
the Holy Spirit, to teach us as we read. He is the best and only teacher we
need.
If we are a Christian, we
have the Spirit of God living within us. He is the pledge with which God has
sealed us as a guarantee, promising we always belong to Him.
“Now He who establishes us
with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the
Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
Many Christians are missing so
many blessings by not being faithful readers of the Bible. Many try to get their
spiritual ‘kicks’ from emotional genuflecting, instead of the real thing. To me
that is like eating the white of an egg instead of the yellow or eating cottage
cheese instead of gravy and biscuits. Once you’ve had the best the heck with
all the rest. I’m sorry, but anyone who can eat just the white of an egg or
cottage cheese is tougher than I am.
That reminds me of sermons. (Don’t
ask me why.) Who knows, but this is another great example. Comparing the Bible
to anything else is like comparing today’s sermonettes with sermons from men
like Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Surely you must admit there
has been at least once in your life you wondered what God says about something.
Don’t go ask someone. Read His book. I’ve never known of a question that cannot
be addressed from God’s Word. When you rely on someone else to tell you what
God says, you’re getting their opinion. Don’t settle for an old used
rattletrap, get a brand spanking new car. Get it from the horse’s mouth in
other words. Get the original, not a copy.
God has a message for each of
us. It is in His book. Read the Bible. Enjoy! You’ll be blessed!
Grant Phillips
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
