Sometimes we need something to cut through the clamour of our lives, to clear away any confusion, something that is solid and dependable.
This something does not go out of fashion, or wear out and never becomes irrelevant.
What is this that gives meaning to life?
It is the Bible, in which we can find such reality, such strength.
Table of Contents:
1. True story involving the Bible gives meaning to life
Members of The Gideons International believe that anybody reading the Bible can see the Truth and believe.
That is why they distribute Bibles to police, fire, medical personnel, prisoners; military personnel; students in the fifth grade and above; and in key locations, including hotels, motels, hospitals, convalescent homes, medical offices, domestic violence shelters, prisons, and jails. 1
Here’s a real-life example:
A young girl at a school in India was given a New Testament and the words intrigued her to read more.
‘Nothing is Impossible: 2020 Cameroon Blitz’ Gideon’s International Blog. 2
A subsequent series of events paved the way for her to embrace God’s love and grace…
Here’s another real-life example:
Roy went downstairs to the hotel lobby, where he found a Gideon-placed Bible.
‘The Power of the Word’ By Lena Hooker Gideons International Blog 3
He sat down and looked through the Helps in the front of the Bible, desperate to find something.
When nothing on the list spoke to his specific situation, he decided to start reading.
To this day, Roy doesn’t know the specific Scriptures he read, but he kept reading until he fell asleep.
He woke up the next morning in the middle of the hotel lobby.
Roy saw a conference room across from him where eight or ten men all had their heads bowed. He knew they were praying.
He didn’t know how they would receive him, but after the night before, he had to talk to someone.
He barged into the room with no knock or polite request to enter—he simply walked in. ‘What are you guys doing here?’ Roy asked.
He expected them to call security and have him escorted from the room. Instead, they explained that they were members of The Gideons International and were having their morning prayer meeting.
One man asked if Roy was a believer.
‘I told him I wasn’t, but I was interested in learning more about Jesus,’ remembers Roy.
Just like that, the man reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a little book.
He handed Roy a Testament and told him to open it to the back page.
The Gideon told Roy that God loved him and asked him to read the Scriptures listed under that statement.
‘He had me read them for myself, rather than simply telling them to me,’ Roy recalls.
He read Romans 5:8 about God proving His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Jesus freely died for mankind.
These words were good news to Roy, especially after the experience he’d had the night before.
Then the Gideon had him read Romans 3:10, which states,
‘None is righteous, no, not one.’ (ESV)
That verse struck a chord with Roy.
He knew he wasn’t righteous.
He knew the kind of person he was and what kind of life he had lived.
‘Even though I always thought I was a halfway decent person, I certainly wasn’t righteous. Yet, Christ died for me,’ Roy admits.
This man went on to tell him the remedy for sin was Christ, who died for our sins and was buried and raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). He told Roy he could be saved and accept Christ into his life.
He had him read one more verse—Romans 10:13.
Roy learned everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Roy vividly remembers what happened next. He recalls:
‘I ended up on my knees with tears in my eyes beside that Gideon. The others in the room joined us in prayer as I accepted Christ. Jesus came into my life, and I was reborn. We opened to the back of that Testament again, and I signed my name. There’s no way to describe how great God is!’
Our life is like a pathway, we may not know where it is leading and who we will meet us on that journey.
Along this pathway we will encounter different forces trying to manipulate our decisions – we will be tempted to react in certain ways.
We need to have a solid grasp of the Bible, otherwise, we will have wishy-washy beliefs.
What should the Gospel message be?
2. Bite sized answers from the Bible that gives meaning to life
How did this world start?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1 NIV
Why are we here?
Are animals different to humans?
And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.”
Genesis 2:7 NIV
In the vastness of space, how can God know who I am?
O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.
Psalm 139:1-3,14 NIV
You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
I feel so empty inside, what or who can satisfy me?
Man does not live on bread alone,
Matthew 4:4 NIV
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
We need to have a solid foundation when everything around us is crashing down.
These verses that Jesus Christ said should challenge and help us:
Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Luke 6:46-49 NIV
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.
They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.
The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Jesus’ words are dependable, true and eternal:
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”
Luke 21:33 NIV
Jesus’ words are like a foundation for our lives to be built upon.
His Spirit pervades the Bible and makes it ‘God-breathed’.
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
Psalm 62:5-6 NIV
my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.”
3. The Bible tells us that all humanity needs to be ‘recalled’
Product description of all recalled items:
Units of all ages, all types, and all models of Homo sapiens.
The defect of the product:
- Loss of direction
- Foul vocal emissions
- Amnesia of origin
- Lack of peace and joy
- Selfish or violent behaviour
- Depression or confusion
- Fearfulness
- Idolatry
- Rebellion
This defect has been identified as “Self Induced Negativity” more commonly known as S.I.N. as it is primarily expressed. (Read about sin here revealed by a raven set loose from Noah’s Ark).
Known hazards resulting from the product:
This defect of the primary and central component of the heart causes each and every unit to deviate further and further from the original programming and it becomes a danger to itself and those around it.
The same defect is reproduced and passed on to all subsequent units.
What to do with the product:
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing a factory-authorised repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.
The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs.
There is no additional fee required.
For further details on the use of these fixes please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth).
To proceed with the product recall please use the contact details below:
How to contact the Manufacturer:
The number to call for repair in all areas is P-R-A-Y-E-R .
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
Remember, you may contact the Father at any time – just speak and you have a direct free line to him.
The Manufacturer’s promise:
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
Warning:
All units not responding to this recall action will be disposed of after a certain amount of time.
The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your attention.
God.
This has been adapted from an email – author unknown.
Baptism is often problematic in practice and divisive between the denominations.
Decisions, decisions: At the crossroads. Some ‘routes’ will shout louder than others.
How to feel happy and just feel better.
The wrong things we do and the good that we don’t result in spiritual bankruptcy.
We may all think that we are ‘good’, so will that get us to heaven?
Temptation hits us in many ways, how did Jesus counter it?
Does God put us in difficult situations?
References – open in new tabs:
‘Nothing is Impossible: 2020 Cameroon Blitz’ Gideon’s International Blog. ↩
‘The Power of the Word’ By Lena Hooker Gideons International Blog 3 September 2020 ↩
Photo Credit: write_adam Flickr via Compfight cc ↩
