What would you do for a Klondike bar? Most of us have
seen that commercial. But today the question is this; What would you do for a
Bible? Would you dance if I came and brought you one? Would tears of joy run
down your face?
How many Bibles do you own? Personally I own at
least thirty-eight complete Bibles, several versions of the New Testament, and
many more electronic versions that I can view on my laptop, my desk computer,
my Ipad, and even my phone. I also own numerous commentaries which also include
the entire Word of God embedded in them. For me there is no excuse to not be
saturated in God’s Word all day, every day. It is now possible for me to have multiple translations
of God’s Word with me no matter where I am.
But for many Christians across this world to simply
have access to one Bible is a tremendous blessing. According to the Wycliffe
people the Bible is available in complete form to 531 different languages. The
New Testament exists for 1,329 different languages while there are another
1,023 who have at least one book of the Bible in their own language. At this
time there are 2,195 projects of translations going on while there are about
1,860 languages yet to be worked on. This leaves 1.3 billion people who do not
have a complete Bible to read in their own language much less a Bible of their
own.
Last Sunday I was blessed to be in Tennessee
visiting my daughter and attended her church where they are currently in a sermon
series on God’s Word. Before the sermon the pastor told a story about how forty
years ago some missionaries went into an unreached group of natives to take
them the Gospel and to tackle the monumental task of translating the Bible into
their own language. The leader of the group was killed by the tribe. But
throughout history God has moved greatly through the witness of those truly
willing to die for the Gospel. The tribe was converted to Christ and the
process of getting the Word of God translated into their own language was
finally completed after forty years. (Typically this is about a thirty year
process.) Then a video was shown of the arrival of the newly printed Bibles in
the village. It was an amazing thing to see.
As the plane landed with their new Bibles on board
the entire village was there to meet the plane. Dressed in their native
clothing adorned with all types of colorful feathers these people danced with
joy as the plane taxied. As the Bibles were handed to the leader of the tribe,
men who looked like fierce warriors watched intently and tears of joy ran down
their eyes. I have never seen anything like this. After the video the pastor
was moved to tears as was I.
Imagine being a Christian and hearing about Jesus at
church but never being able to go home and find comfort and joy in the
scriptures. Imagine those times when doubt creeps in and not being able to be strengthened
by the Word of God. Imagine praying to God but not having His Word at your side
to pray through. Imagine trying to share Christ with your family but not having
a Bible to read the great stories of scripture. Imaging having no Bible.
Maybe you don’t have to imagine. Maybe though you
have a Bible you never open it up. Maybe you’ve never prayed through scripture.
Maybe your Bible is buried somewhere under a pile of other books or sits
covered with dust on a bookshelf.
My friends, God has given us His Word. Most of us
reading this have blessings of things others in lands far away cannot even
imagine having. Most of us have a Bible. We should not take that for granted.
Open God’s Word this very day. Make a conscious decision
to spend time with Jesus every day by reading His Word. Dust off that Bible. It
will change your life. I leave you with God’s Word on God’s Word.
Psalm 19:7-10
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving 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 rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving 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 rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
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