For me, the Bible is the Holy Word of God; from the Creator of the universe and all that is. It’s a literary representation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who is the Word of God made flesh. Jesus said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) All scripture is given by inspiration (the breath) of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2Timothy 3:16-17) Although there are many different interpretations and denominational beliefs, Truth is Truth and cannot be divided as the word denominations implies. The Bible is a letter from our dearest and closest relative; our Father in heaven. He sends this message to His children, who are away in a world of confusion. He comforts and helps them to make sense of the chaos in this world. For His children living in the last days, He prepares them for what’s to come as they prepare for His coming. He does not leave His children ignorant as to His plans for this world.
To read and understand the Bible is to know that only God can open the hearts and minds of people to the Truth. We can witness or share how the Lord has helped us in our lives, hoping others will tap into this freedom until we’re blue in the face but only God will open their eyes. Many people find comfort in the words of the Bible but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they understand His Story. For the same reasons that there are many different types of beliefs and religions, there are many different Christian denominations. God helps us where we are and by what we can handle. Once the seed of wanting to know Him has been planted within us, it’s up to us as individuals to continue to search for further understanding of our Father in heaven and His plan for this world we live in. We must always have the desire to know increasingly more about Him and His will for us. In searching for truth, we generally pick the belief that gives the most comfort to our spirituality. For the atheist, they choose none of the above. But God (the Son) says, You didn’t choose me, I chose you. (John 15:16)
The key to understanding the Bible is to understand what happened before the earth became formless and empty. At first you might say, there’s little if any at all written in God’s Word pertaining to that time. If one really digs deep in God’s Word and lets the Holy Spirit guide the way to understanding, one will see that the whole Bible can pertain in one way or another to that time. The stories in the Bible show many patterns of the way things are, both with mankind up to the present, and the circumstances that came about in the first heaven. In other words, the events that led up to Lucifer’s rebellion in the first heaven are being played out again on earth. Only this time it’s in a physical world where it can be recorded, played back and examined as evidence to our true selves and the way we are to God and each other.
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9) There is nothing new for mankind. It has all been done before.
Some might not like my choice of words but sometimes I relate the Bible as being a magic book. Not one to cast spells or anything like that, but it is the Living Word. The true meaning of its message is hidden from those destined to perish. Just because one can read doesn’t make one Biblically literate. If everyone understood and practiced its message, we wouldn’t have had to be reborn or born from above. God wouldn’t have to take the memories of our prior existence from us; that ninety percent of our brains that we don’t use. For some, their life doesn’t include having the proverbial spiritual light of revelation and enlightenment go on. They need to go through the school of hard knocks, which we all go through to some degree. It is true though, that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. However, there are some who are incapable of believing enough to call on the name of the Lord. Even if they could, what they would ask for would be different from what the Lord knows they need. So from that, they wouldn’t know what to look for to be certain that the Lord was providing and the Lord does provide! The secrets of the Bible cannot be found by the casual reader or the literary archaeologist. This is one who dissects every letter, but because of their biased, denominational and indoctrinated way of worship, they are blind to the deeper meaning. The Apostle Paul was like this until Jesus got his attention. This is written about in the ninth chapter of Acts. On the same token, as simply as I’m trying to write what the Lord has revealed to me, God will either open your heart or harden your heart as to the possibilities of its truth. My desire is not to convert people because God is in control. He knows the hearts of all people and draws those He loves and who love Him in return toward Him. The Apostle Paul was highly educated in the Word of God, yet he didn’t have a clue about Jesus and His followers until Jesus Himself literally struck him with blindness.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2Corinthians 4:3-4) These are the same people who say that the Bible contradicts itself. No one can come to me (Jesus Christ) unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: They will all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (John 6:44-45)
Notice, They will all be taught by God. Mankind is flesh, God is Spirit. Flesh can only teach flesh about flesh, not spirit. Spiritual knowledge comes from the Spirit or spirits. I don’t care if you have a 20-year doctorate degree in theology. Man is teaching man by the traditions men have made, passed down and corrupted over the ages. Deep in our hearts we know the Truth, but (the god of) this world has blinded many with the vanities of this temporal world. Many by their misunderstanding have become bitter against God saying, "Why does He allow so much evil to continue in this world?" Maybe, like a good detective, He wants enough evidence to put the Adversary away forever. Maybe He’s waiting for you to stop going along with the flow and open your eyes so that He can get started and you can have His protection.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: revere the LORD, and depart from evil. It will be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones. Honour the LORD with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all your increase: So will your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses will burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the LORD loves He corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights. Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain of it more than fine gold. (Proverbs 3:5-14)
If you think that you’re getting away with taking advantage of people and other acts of selfishness and greed, maybe it’s because the Lord doesn’t love you and your sin will catch up with you on the day you stand before your Creator. At that time, you will accept and understand completely why you deserve the punishment you will receive. I do feel however, that if you are led to read this (and other writings which help you to have a closer relationship with the Lord) then there’s a very strong chance that the Lord does in fact love you very much. The Lord loves those who have a desire to learn increasingly more about their Father in heaven; so that they can understand His will for them.
One final thought to keep in mind as you’re reading this is that the Bible was compiled in the year A.D. 398. The 66 books of the Bible are probably about half of the many ancients writings that were considered to be a part of the canonized Word of God. Before A.D. 398, many regarded other sacred writings as Holy scripture. For instance, in the book of Jude, who was Jesus’ half-brother, quotes from the book of Enoch. The book of Enoch sheds much light on understanding God’s plan more in-depth. Also, in the book of Joshua and in 2Samuel, both give reference to the book of Jasher.
Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? (Isaiah 2:22 NIV) Regarding my life in the eternity, I will trust no one. I will not leave the fate of my eternal existence in the hands of another person. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26) In A.D. 398, a group of men decided among the ancient writings what would be appropriate for the people in understanding the Word of God. Surely God had His hand in their decision. Although there’s practically an infinite store-house of treasures to be gleaned from the canonized Word of God, for those who have an insatiable appetite to become more intimate with their heavenly Father, there is more.