Most books present their readers with a theme, some story information, perhaps entertainment, and a conclusion. These books are read, but after a while fade into our distant memories. But the Bible is not called the “book of books” for nothing. The Bible is unique in so many ways that it would take more than one devotion to highlight why the Bible is unlike any book ever written.
Pastor John MacArthur gives us an excellent summary on the unique nature of the Bible when he states: “Even though the Bible is an ancient document, every person in every situation in every society that’s ever existed can find in this book things that endure forever. Here’s a book that never needs another edition. It never needs to be edited, never has to be updated, is never out of date or obsolete. It speaks to us as pointedly and directly as it ever has to anyone in any century since it was written. It’s so pure that it lasts forever.”1
Below are just three areas among many that I pray will show you why the Bible should be daily reading by both Christian and non-Christian.
It’s inspirational
It’s inspirational. Jesus’ teachings on the Sermon on the Mount, the Psalms, the Ten Commandments and the continuous love of God for mankind have down through the centuries been the pillars on which millions have anchored their faith. No book can generate more comfort, encouragement and purpose for life than the Bible. So many great masterpieces of art, literature, music and film have been created by people touched with the message of God that our world would be deprived of much of its very heart and soul if it were deprived of this one book.
The Bible – it’s the theme of so many other writings
Not only has the Bible been the inspiration for transforming the lives of countless millions down through the centuries but it has spawned an amazing amount of literary works and religious themes.
Bernard Ramm, a twentieth century Baptist theologian and apologist, has forcefully demonstrated this claim when he stated: “From the Apostolic Fathers dating from A.D. 95 to the modern times is one great literary river inspired by the Bible—Bible dictionaries, Bible encyclopedias, Bible lexicons, Bible atlases, and Bible geographies. These may be taken as a starter. Then at random, we may mention the vast bibliographies around theology, religious education, hymnology, missions, the biblical languages, church history, religious biography, devotional works, commentaries, philosophy of religion, evidences, apologetics and on and on. There seems to be an endless number…”2
The Bible – its unique place in bookstores
The Bible is the only book you will find with a whole section devoted to it in a bookstore (whether Christian or secular) – not a section devoted to books about the subject – The Bible – but to the Bible itself! There are so many different translations (King James Version, New American Standard, New International Version, The Amplified Bible, The Message, The Living Bible, etc.), sizes (the entire Bible, The New Testament, pocket editions, large-print editions), and materials (hardcover, paperback, leather bound) that in many of the larger bookstores an entire section is reserved for this one very special book.
My friends with credentials like these is it any wonder the Bible, down through the centuries, has withstood the test of time!
1 Inspirational Quotes by John MacArthur – page 5 (bibleportal.com)
2 https://www.forerunner.com/orthodoxy/X0003_2._Authority_of_Scri.html