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Perhaps
you have read the Bible straight through from cover to cover. Or perhaps
you have read different parts of the Bible at various times. But, have
you seen the story that ties the 66 books into one- the big picture of the
Bible?
God chose to
give His revelation to man in the format of a “mystery” (1 Cor 2:7). This
for-mat is common in books, TV shows, and movies. In the beginning of a
mystery, the problem that needs to be resolved is presented. Then clues
are given that point toward the solution- clues that are not clearly
understood at the time they are given. Finally, at the end of the
mystery, the solution is revealed. All of the clues then make perfect
sense and the whole plot falls into place like a jigsaw puzzle.
The Creator
had a plan before He made the world. God wanted men to be holy and
blameless and to be children in His family (Eph 1:4-5). But, in order for
this to happen, a solution had to be found to the problem presented in the
early pages of the Bible- sin (See Genesis 3). How could those who sinned
be “holy and blameless”? How could those who had sinned and had destroyed
their relationship with a holy God become His children?
Right after the sin of Adam and Eve the first clue was given. The seed of
woman would bruise Satan on the head and Satan would bruise him on the
heel (Gen 3:15). Satan had won a battle against man in successfully
enticing him to sin, but he would not win the war. A Savior born of woman
would sustain a minor injury from
Satan, but would deal him
a crushing blow. But who would he be? Clues continued to be given to his
identity. |
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This one who would
bless all nations would be a descendent of
Abraham (Gen 12:3), Isaac (Gen 26:4), and Jacob (or Israel, Gen 28:14)
and therefore would come from the nation of Israel. This Savior
would also be a King (Messiah) from the tribe of Judah (Gen
49:10). And, of those in the tribe of Judah, he would descend from the
family of David (2 Sam 7:12,13). Many more clues were given such
as where the Savior would be born (Micah 5:2), what kind of character he
would have (Isa 42:1-4), and how that he would suffer and die, but live
again (Isa 53:1-12).
God carried
out his eternal purpose through Jesus (Eph 3:11) and revealed His my-stery
through His apostles and prophets (Eph 3:3-5) in the New Testament. A
comparison of the N.T. with the predictions in the O.T. clearly shows us
that He is the long, awaited Savior and King. He was of the right
descent; he was born in the right place; he had the character Isaiah
predicted he would, and he suffered, died, and arose. Through Jesus’
sacrifice on Calvary’s cross (Satan’s injury to His heel), He crushed
Satan’s head and blessed all mankind with the opportunity to become holy
and blameless and to be adopted into the family of God. As a son of
God, man can strive toward the goal of God’s mystery, that is, to have
Christ in him (that is, Christ’s character), which is his hope of glory
in heaven (Col 1:27).
Now
you know the big picture of the Bible. Keep it in mind as you read any
part of the whole- it will help you to understand it. And, marvel as
you see all of the pieces fit together!
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Nearly every home has a
Bible. Some are displayed on coffee tables. Others are placed in
bookcases, put away in closet shelves, or packed in trunks in the attic.
The Bible is owned and revered by more people than any other book in the
world. Yet, most copies of it are doing little more than gathering dust.
Why
is this so? There is no spiritual hunger for the Bible. Peter wrote,
“Like newborn babes long for the pure milk of the Word so that you may
grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet 2:2). Anyone who has had a newborn
baby or has been around one knows that they will not stop crying until
they are fed. Unfortunately, it is rare in our society to see this kind
of intense longing to learn the Word of God. |
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Many are
starving spiritually with food right there in their homes. They just
have no appetite for the Bible. They do not consider it any more
important than any other book. In fact, it is treated as less
important for many books go in and out of the home from the library,
while the Bible remains unread.
What about
you? Do you have a Bible? Are you reading it? This bulletin is not
at all a substitute for the Bible. It is designed to do the same
thing a restaurant commercial does- to make you hungry. Are you
hungry for the Word of God? The only way to satisfy that hunger is to
open up its pages. Do it soon and do it often. Nourish you soul and
watch it grow- Watch your relationship with God grow unto salvation.
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A few
years ago, I went on a field trip with my son Jeremy to a house dating
from the late 1800’s. The tour guide called our attention to the design
of the doors. She said that they were called “Christian” doors because
the design on them was a cross with a rectangle on either side of the
cross to represent an open Bible.
The design
reflects an age where the cross of Jesus was important and Bibles were
opened and read. In those days it was considered that “the fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
understanding” (Prov 9:10). Parents were diligent
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to
instruct the children in the home so that it could be said that God’s
words were written on the doorposts of the house. (Dt 6:9)
Sadly, most people in our society pay little if any attention to the
values reflected on the “Christian” doors. What about your house? Are
those who go in and out of your doors knowledgeable in the Bible? Do they
meditate on the cross of Jesus and are they being inspired by it to be His
disciples? Does your house have “Christian” doors? If not, there’s no
time like the present to exalt the cross of Jesus and the Bible to their
proper place in your home. |
