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The Bible - It's Alive!
by Pastor Bill Pevlor

God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is a priceless treasure. It is odd, I think, how many people never recognize the Bible as anything other than another book. Abraham Lincoln revered its value when he said “This great book is the best gift which God has ever given to man, and that all things desirable for man to know are contained in.”

Indeed! The Bible is more than just another book. The Bible is “alive.” It not only imparts life to the reader - it also lives. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active.” Not only is the Holy Bible alive, it will live eternally. Isaiah 40:8 says “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Over the centuries, many have tried to destroy the Bible. Many have tried to burn it, ban it and outlaw it.

In A.D. 303, Diocletian issued an edict to stop Christians from worshiping and destroy their scriptures. Churches and scripture were to be destroyed by fire. Church leaders were to loose all their civil rights and if they persisted they were to be jailed. However, twenty-five years later Constantine became emperor and ordered that fifty copies of the Scriptures be prepared at government expense.

Voltaire, the noted French infidel who died in 1778, said that in one hundred years from his time Christianity would be swept from existence and passed into history. Yet, it was only fifty years after Voltaire’s death that the Geneva Bible Society used his printing presses and house to produce stacks of Bibles.

H.L. Hastings illustrated the unique way the Bible has withstood attacks: “Infidels for eighteen hundred years have been refuting and overthrowing this book, and yet it stands today as solid as a rock. Its circulation increases, and it is more loved and cherished and read today than ever before. Infidels, with all their assaults, make about as much impression on this book as a man with a tack hammer would on the Pyramids of Egypt. When a French monarch proposed the persecution of Christians in his dominion, on old statesman and warrior said to him, ‘Sire, the Church of God is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.’ So the hammers of infidels have been pecking away at this book for ages, but the hammers are worn out and the anvil still endures. If this book had not been the book of God, men would have destroyed it long ago. Emperors and kings, princes and rulers, even spiritual authorities have all tried their hand at it; they all die and the Bible still lives.

I wonder how our society, for the most part, has come to be so complacent about the Holy Bible. The Bible is still the best selling book of all time; no other book even comes close. Most every home has at least one Bible. Yet it is certainly one of the least read and followed books of our time. Our society still holds great reverence for the Bible. We place our hand on it when we swear to tell the truth. We are not, apparently, convinced of its relevance for our lives today.

One of the most compelling benefits of Bible reading is a better understanding of God. By reading God’s Word you learn about Him. You can’t truly serve God with out an accurate understanding of who God is. I suppose our societies lack of interest in the Bible and the truth it contains is a clear indication of our societies lack of interest in serving God.

Imagine being hired to serve as the top assistant to the president of a corporation. If you have any desire to succeed in your new position you will need to know something about your new boss. You’ll need to know what he likes and dislikes. What does he expect of you? If you’re going to be of any assistance, you will have to know what his goals and objectives are. You’ll want to know what kind of disposition he has and how you can expect to be treated as an employee.

God clearly spells out what he likes and dislikes in the Bible. You can learn of His goals and objectives, His disposition, what He expects of you and how you can expect to be treated by Him, all in the Bible. Its been said, the Holy Bible is God’s “Operator’s Manual” for His most valued creation - man.

Novels and romance stories may hold your interest. However, if you want to know how God desires you to live, if you want a book that will actually help you live it, if you want a book that is living, eternal, powerful, ultimate truth and the source of real faith there’s only one book for you; the Word of God - The Holy Bible. It is the only book that is “alive” and brings new life to readers.

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Victorious Faith Ministries
219 State Street, Algoma, WI 54201
Phone: 920-487-5775