What It Is

"Abandon Hopelessness, All Ye Who Enter"

That's what I wrote on the front page of the Bible I had a long time ago. Why do I write it again now? Because there has been much (good) dialogue in Dave's blog about the inspiration/inerrancy/authority of Scripture. I believe it's a very healthy and useful exercise, but in opening the Word there is something that changes you forever, removing all of your hopelessness about yourself and this world.

So enough about what it isn't. What about what it is?

It is alive (Hebrews 4:12) and will cause serious damage to your old way of life. You will no longer be ignorant if you read it. You will no longer be without excuse. For example:

• If you read Genesis 1:1 you will no longer be able to say that you didn't know God created.
• If you read II Corinthians 10:5 you will no longer be able to say that your thoughts are uncontrollable.
• If you read Ephesians 4:29 you will no longer be able to say anything you feel like saying to anyone you feel like saying it to.
  
• If you read Philippians 4:8 you will no longer be able to say that you can think what you want.
• If you read Lamentations 3:22,23 you will no longer be able to say that it's 'too late' for mercy for the things you've done as His mercies are new every morning.
  
• If you read Matthew 27: 26 - 31 you will no longer be able to say that you didn't know how much Jesus loves you.
• If you read Proverbs 6:27,28 you will no longer be able to say that you can play with this world and remain untouched.
• If you read Daniel 1:8 you will no longer be able to say that you couldn't help but compromise with the things of the world.
• If you read Luke 24:6 you will no longer be able to say that He is not alive.
• If you read Romans 8:1 you will no longer be able to say that you can't escape the things of your past, that you are still under their condemnation.
• If you read Matthew 5:23, 24 you will no longer be able to say that it's okay to hold things against your brother.
  
• If you read John 14:6 you will no longer be able to say that there is another way than through Jesus Christ.
  

I think you get the drift - or better yet the rock - of my point.

You see - these other arguments, while valid, are because of some of the ambiguities we live under in our clouded thinking. It's nice to know that there are some things that are crystal clear, and finding them in His Word cuts through the ambiguities and removes all of our rationalizations or the reasonings of man. You can stake your life on them.