There is more action, adventure, romance, intrigue, wisdom, life and inspiration in this one volume than in any other book ever written. It is a breathtaking, panoramic saga of kings, empires and dynasties, vividly described in the rich, full texture of an ancient world setting. Great wealth and splendor are continuously contrasted with the everyday life and affairs of the common man.
The forty-plus authors, although spanning a period of 1,500 years, remarkably manage to connect all sixty-six books into a trilling tale of man and his quest for meaning. Layer upon layer of man’s intensely complex personality and emotions are laid bare before us, as the reader is given the most in-depth exploration into the very essence of our human nature.
Stories that many of us have heard about all of our lives, but perhaps have never read, provide the backdrop for the examination of our human condition. Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, Noah’s ark, Samson and Delilah, the tower of Babel, David and Goliath, the Ten Commandments, Jonah and the whale, Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, Daniel and the lion’s den, the three wise men, Jesus born in a manger, the crucifixion of Jesus and His coming back to life, and many more, become alive to us as we begin to explore our Bibles.
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. It is totally multidimensional in its scope. It’s a mirror. As we read it, we constantly see ourselves reflected in the lives of the biblical characters. It’s a treasure hunt. As we travel through its pages, we are guaranteed to find nuggets of wisdom of incomparable value.
(Proverbs 3:13-15) declares:
“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.”
The Bible is history. As we have already seen in several prior devotions, the Bible is a first-rate history book that promises to send any history buff into a state of sheer ecstasy. The Bible is full of poetry. The Book of Psalms is world-renowned for its literary style and excellence of composition. It’s philosophy. The Holy Scriptures have more to say about human nature and what life is all about than Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Confucius and Freud combined. It’s science. Once again not only does the Bible talk authoritatively on many areas in the scientific realm, but it has been the indispensable mentor of many of the greatest scientific men of all time.
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.
Its message is powerful! (Hebrews 4:12) boldly proclaims:
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Winkie Pratney rightly stated:
“You know, many of the Eastern thought forms use Scripture. That’s because the book is so powerful – you can’t ignore it. If you don’t use it, you can’t capture people’s hearts. God has built life into His Word, and all the strong cults rip it off – steal bites out of the Bible and use it…Just the fact that pieces taken out of context are powerful enough to draw men’s hearts should tell you what the whole Word, used under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit can do!”1
Finally, the Bible is ultra-controversial! No book has caused more people to be burned at the stake, brought before firing squads, sent to prison, beheaded, stoned, sawn in two, subjected to scourging, mocked and made a spectacle of than the Bible. It’s hard to believe how one “dull old book” can rile people up to such states of hatred and murder.
My friends, the genius behind this collection of sixty-six books is without rival on planet Earth. Imagine: all of the above themes, and the chance to find peace, joy and meaning in our lives, are all wrapped up in this one volume! Why not pick up a copy of the Bible today? You just may find yourself embarking on a scenic tour into a world you never dreamed could exist.
1 “The Holy Bible-Wholly True” by Winkie Pratney. Copyright 1979, 1984. Last Days Ministries.