Elders Journal
​Why I Believe In “The” Bible
If there ever was any truth in the idea that your mind is sharper and more attentive when you are young, I must have been a late bloomer. I was probably about 13 years old when I began thinking more about spiritual things. I had always been curious about people, places, and things but comparing worldly knowledge and philosophy with spiritual wisdom was entirely different! I was 15 when I chose to take a course in Old Testament Bible history! This was a High School study. Why I chose to do that was a mystery at the time. The good sense of that decision was only apparent when I recognized the need to account for what I believed about the God I had already heard so much about. That led to a 2nd study in my senior year which focused more on the New Testament and the life of Jesus!
Almost without my knowledge and obviously, for my benefit, a vital question was being answered. “Is the Bible the Word of God and is It really truth?” Fortification for this most basic of Christian beliefs was forthcoming for me, as that curiosity I couldn’t remember, went into overload. I never knew how much information I would need to satisfy this “itch” I had, and I never expected some of the negative nonsense and foolishness that came from the opposing views of other people. The bonus for me in this experience was realized when I recognized that God rewards those who “diligently seek Him.” Before I could accept the Bible as His Word, His truth, I needed to believe in Him! As I have now learned, this type of faith is a Biblical principle.
It truly is amazing how every aspect of your life is enhanced when you submit to certain rules of conduct and stature. I have heard statements about righteous living for as long as my mind could comprehend them, but adherence to any commandment didn’t always come as a desire to do what was right. When I began to study the Bible again, years later, it was really for the first time and the way God filled the voids in my intelligence is testimony to the way He rewards reasonable inquiry. I didn’t need special tutoring to recognize that the Bible held all the help I would ever need to deal with whatever challenge or doubt life could produce.
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Continuous study has revealed that, when we come to Jesus and learn from Him, we will find spiritual rest. Searching the Bible to find answers to certain questions wasn’t good enough for me until I could have peace with the truth. Hope for something better than this life has built patience and comfort for me, just as Jesus promises. This must be a continuing, growing process for any of us and all reasonable research will validate any previous inquiry! That’s how consistent the Bible is and there is great reward for those who recognize the physical, mental, and spiritual wisdom of the heavenly language contained in His Word and law!
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Why do I believe in the Bible? Because, the plan of salvation offered within Its pages gives man the only logical hope for his ravaged world. All the posturing and vain efforts of previous generations have proven the futility of man trying to find peace and security in worldly or even unworldly things. True peace for one’s self cannot be found in temporal, ever fleeting, pursuits. Wealth, fame, and things of this world have already proven their futility! Space travel hasn’t revealed any hope either! When you live long enough to recognize this and witness the comfort that Bible believing Christians have, the evidence is self-rendering.
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The Bible is the Word of God, His truth and righteousness is the rule of conduct for me, and the hope He offers sustains me! If this confidence is what I can live and share with someone else, then the magnitude of His plan will continue to be felt and the validity of His Book will constantly be accepted.
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