BEST AND WORST OF ACCEPTING OR REJECTING THE BIBLE
Evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1839) is famously known to say, “The Bible that is falling apart belongs to the man who is not.”
I'm proud to announce that my Holman’s New America Standard Bible that I bought in 1989 is still with me, and is falling apart badly. It has been with me longer they my sons—even longer than Shanna. It has been my faithful companion over the past three decades.
Here is a short list of seven things that obeying the Bible had done to transform my life. Here about this in detail on our latest podcast.
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The Bible has drawn me closer to my relationship with my Creator.
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 3:14 -
The Bible has given me healthy guardrails for life, marriage, and relationships.
“and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
- Matthew 19:5-6
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The Bible has helped me live a full and joy-filled life when I obey it.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10
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The Bible has inspired me to stay true to my belief that the majority is usually wrong and I have found great comfort in knowing that I am supposed to be surrounded by those who disagree with my beliefs in order to win them to Jesus.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.” -John 14:6
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The Bible has encouraged me that there is life after mistakes.
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins.” - Colossians 1:13-14
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The Bible has helped me model my life after the perfect man—the Alpha man—Jesus.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—
yet he did not sin.” - Hebrews 4:15
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The Bible has taught me how to treat the ones I love, those I philosophically disagree with, and those who have hurt me.
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” - Luke 6:27-28
Naysayers, read carefully.
If I am wrong about the truth of the Scripture and it IS NOT true, my worst-case scenario is living a great life surrounded by those I love. I was a loyal husband, a loving father, and a man who left a positive fingerprint on this world.
I generously and faithfully gave 10% of my resources to great causes, served my fellow man, and loved those who were different from myself. Essentially, the Bible positively changed my life, and those around me, for the better—by far.
But if I am right and the Bible and everything within its pages I true, then life will end at death for those who do not believe what is taught about Jesus.
Even more tragically, they will, by their own choice, spend an eternity separated from the God who made them (Isaiah 59:2 and Romans 6:23).
As Randy Alcorn wrote in his book, Heaven, “For the believer, the earth is the closest they will ever get to hell. But for the unbeliever, the earth is the closest they will ever get to heaven.”
Chew on that.
Jim Ramos
