Today many people question the Bible or have questions about the Bible. And maybe rightfully so. According to Barna Research, 50 % Americans still read the Bible to some degree. Technology has helped to keep that number that high. Among the readers are baby boomers, city dwellers and southerners. I wonder if that has something to do with the age of the baby boomers, and the dissatisfaction with the city and of course the south being well known as a large swath of the Bible belt. But I return to my original statement about questioning the Bible. Just about everyone has questions about the Bible and particularly from those who read it to some degree. According to Barna two thirds of Americans have some curiosity about the Bible. And yet, according to the Gideon’s International speaker we had a few weeks ago, it has become more difficult to distribute the New Testament. People are curious but there is a stigma attached to it in our modern world. We want what it has to offer in a hope that comes from it for purpose beyond this life but fear it would make too many changes to our present life.
Yes, the Word of God, does give hope and purpose in life. But we don’t ask the questions. The Bible asks the questions. Two questions stand out in my mind. One from God, on the day the Mankind fell into sin, when Adam was hiding and God said, “Adam, where are you?” People need to ask that question about their relationship with God. “Where are we?” God comes seeking mankind and mankind tends to hedge on facing that question, perhaps not wanting to be found because of the power of sin and consciousness that knows that there is an end to life but don’t want to face it.
God asks another question once it accomplished that there was a purpose to the end of life, and that our misgivings and sin could be forgiven and conscience cleared. God loved mankind enough to stoop to its very level and accomplish what mankind could not do for itself–live a sacrificial life beyond the power of sin and thus offer eternity based on God’s grace rather than what anything mankind could offer. Jesus, the second part of the Holy Trinity, better recognized at the son of God, and less recognized as God incarnate, has accomplished for mankind what mankind cannot do for itself. Jesus was crucified and resurrected. He experienced death, perhaps the cruelest that mankind could muster, but also demonstrated power over death and the sin of world by being resurrected. The same God incarnate promised life to all who would believe that Jesus was the truth, the life, and the way, and that they who believe even though they die they will live. And the question was asked, “Do you believe this?” (I sometime contemplate the tone in which Jesus said it.)
In any case it was God reaching out to mankind. It was God saying, “I love you.” It was God granting the gift of life to those who would respond positively to the questions asked in the Bible. Easter is time for all to reflect on those questions and know that the answers demonstrate faith or the lack thereof of the hope found in the crucified and resurrected incarnate God, Jesus Christ, the Lord. Then the Spirit of God dwells within in you to assure you of these things.
Be Encouraged,
Ray
PS. I have question. Where will you be found this Easter? Hopefully not in hiding.
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