The Bible has changed my life and still does. It is truly God’s Word for us on how to get to heaven and how to live an abundant life while we are here.
If you are skeptical about the Bible research it. It’s too important to ignore, your life depends on it.
Here are five things the Bible states that it is good for.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light (1) to my path.”
2 Timothy 3:16,17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching (2), for reproof (3), for correction (4), and for training (5) in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
(1) Daily light – Every day is valuable
Psalms 90:12 “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Andy Stanley says there is a point in your life where you no longer think about how old you are but about how much time you have left. We start sensing that there is a finish line. For me, it was in the spring of 2001, age 55. I had been experiencing pain down my arm and had been to the doctor a couple of times, but I wasn’t ready for surgery. My wife Carol and my doctor were ready, but I thought I could get through another season of softball before I had to go under the knife and have neck fusion. At our first practice that spring I was up to bat during a practice scrimmage. I took a hard swing, and as the bat hit the ball I felt a sharp pain down my arm that really got my attention. I then told the guys I had to take a season off and arranged for the surgery. I know neck fusion is not as traumatic as some other kinds of surgeries, but for me it was an eye opener. I realized that my body was starting to go through the aging process, and at some time I would have to give it up. That was the turning point for me. How many years would I have left? But even more important than that, how am I going to spend the time I have left. Stanley says there is a web site, deathclock.com, where you can find out how much time you have left. How gruesome is that? L
Even though our time is running out and our time on earth is short, for us, time could be our greatest resource! Just think about it. We are no longer raising kids, we are probably retired from our job, and our church and community responsibilities are probably less. We have time! And it could be a lot of time. A study from the Society of Actuaries states that from a healthy 65-year-old couple, one will probably live to be 92, and there is a 25% chance they could live to be 97. If we are 65 there is a good chance that we could live to be 95. We could have 30 more years!! Now, relatively speaking, that’s a lot of time.
(2) For teaching – Going the wrong way story
Prov. 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
As I was approaching my retirement years, Carol asked me what I was going to do in retirement. At that time she encouraged me to get a seminary degree so I started to take classes for a Master’s Degree in Theology. It took me ten years but I eventually graduated.
I took classes by correspondence but in order to graduate I had to attend the graduation ceremony. So I went to the ceremony and we had to rehearse the night before. I was second in line for graduate degrees and the guy ahead of me was complaining about having to rehearse and mocking the process the whole time. The undergraduate degrees went first and we just followed them but for the actual ceremony the next day there was a large separation between the two groups and my first in line friend went the wrong way. I just stopped when he made a wrong turn but he didn’t realize it until he went thirty or forty feet in the wrong direction. He turned and ran back to us as we waited. What a good lesson for us when leaders go astray. His pride got the best of him and it gave me a good story to tell.
(3) For reproof – Executive pastor story
The Bible is good for reproof but it also tells you that reproof is good. I’ll let you think about that for a few seconds. J When I was an executive pastor the leadership had a consultant come in to give advice and counsel where needed. After he had spent some time talking to the staff and analyzing the situation he met with me personally. During our conversation he was going over his analysis and stated that I had one specific personal problem. He said I was defensive. After his comment I was quick to respond “I AM NOT DEFENSIVE!!” So after I calmed down a little, I thought maybe he was right. J So on my own I went through Proverbs and highlighted all the verses about reproof. Here are some:
- Proverbs 10:17b “But he who ignores reproof goes astray.”
- Proverbs 12:1b “But he who hates reproof is stupid.”
- Proverbs 13:18b “But he who regards reproof will be honored.”
- Proverbs 15:5b “But he who regards reproof is sensible.”
- Proverbs 15:10b “He who hates reproof will die.”
- Proverbs 15:31 “He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.”
The process had a large impact on me as I read how reproof is good and valuable. From that time forward I have tried to view it that way. I am not always successful but I am certainly a lot better at it.
(4) For correction – IBM Peer Manager story
At one time, I was a first line manager, and a peer manager in the same organization started telling my employees that I was not doing a very good job. At first I was defensive and told them not to talk to him, but God convinced me that He could handle it, so I told them to go ahead and talk to him. My peer manager was trying to move up the corporate ladder, and he viewed me as one of the rungs. But God worked it out that instead of acquiring my business area, he had difficulty with his; and our superiors gave his business area to me. This was sort of like the story in the book of Esther about Esther and Haman. (If you have never read or don’t remember the story, take time to read Esther, an Old Testament book which tells about how God works through the small circumstances.) As he saw his job falling apart, he came into my office one day and closed the door. I can still picture him walking back and forth in my small office as he struggled with the fact that his career was not working out as he planned. He then stopped and looked at me and asked, “What should I do?” I replied that I’m not sure exactly what the answer is, but I know where to find it, and I pointed to my Bible on my credenza. He then puffed out his chest and said “Oh, Yeah.” He then walked toward my Bible, and I can remember saying to God in my mind, “Ok, it’s in your hands.” He then opened my Bible to a random page, pointed down and read, “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool” (Proverbs 19:1). It was so powerful that he fell slightly backward and looked at me and said, “Maybe the answers are there.” I lost track of him after that as he transferred out, but I hope by now he has taken the most important step and trusted Christ.
(5) For training- my IBM story
At another time in my IBM days I would have my personal devotions at lunch time. I would go into my office, read a portion of scripture, and pray. Today I would not recommend that because sometimes I didn’t have time for lunch. So shortly after that I started to have my time with God the first thing each morning, because no matter what happens during the day I have to get up first. J
During that time I was the technical lead on developing the first digital avionics display. The job was challenging and on one day I got into a deep argument over our technical approach with my fellow engineer. Then I went into my office for lunch an read these words:
- 2 Tim 2:24-26 “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”
How can I witness to someone that I am arguing with? These verses were so impactful to me that I claimed them as my life verse (or verses) and my daughter later made a cross-stitch picture of them which now hang on the wall in my home office.
So please get more of God’s word into you and pray for your families and neighbors for the same.
In conclusion:
Psalms 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes than much fine gold; sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is GREAT REWARD.”
Soaring Into Heaven 