In the above picture of my book, The Challenge, you will notice that I have five books in the top scale: Plato, Darwin, Confucius, Marx, and Freud. Obviously any good library should be stocked with books about these five world famous influential thinkers. I have often contended that no one can be considered a well-read, well-rounded individual without having some knowledge of these five world-renowned cultural icons. However, due to the fact that the Bible and its central figure, Jesus Christ, have influenced our Western culture in so many amazing ways, having no knowledge of both, in my opinion, disqualifies you from being a well-read and well-rounded person.
I dare say if your personal library could have only one book in it, the Bible should be that book! I love how Charles Spurgeon put it when he said: “Above all I commend the study of Christ. Let Him be your library.”1
I don’t know about you but if I could study the life of only one individual, hands down, it would be Jesus Christ. And the reason is simple. No one individual has had such a positive and wide ranging impact in our world than Christ.
Wherever Christ is shared and embraced people’s lives have been transformed for the better. Sinners have become saints, people living in great bondage have become free, and our societies have become more loving and caring. Not to mention eternal destinies have been changed from hell bound to heaven bound!
My friends the Bible is without a doubt the most amazing, influential, intellectually sound, and transformational book ever written. In fact, the Bible is the only book that gives the account of special creation. (Read Genesis, chapter 1). It is the only book that gives a continuous historical record from the first man to the present era and on into the future. It is the only book that boasts it will last forever; and so far, 3,000 years later, it’s heading that way. For we read (in Isaiah 40:8): “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever.” It is the only book of antiquity that accurately details prophecies of events to come. It is the only book of any religion that states man is born in sin and then presents the way of salvation. And if you could only have one book to include in your personal library, the Bible should be that book!
1 Charles Spurgeon quote: Above all I commend the study of Christ. Let Him… (azquotes.com)