“But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4 NASB)
You can fact check me if you want, but my quick research uncovered something quite revealing. Let me share my finding with you because I’m sure it will reassure you that not all is lost. Twenty million bibles are sold annually, just in the United States on an annual basis. Now if only the volume of purchases translated into producing victorious lives as produced by changed hearts, changed minds, and change actions in the lives of those who purchase a bible or are given a bible. As that old song says, “What a wonderful world it would be.”
Having a good printed, study bible is a must, regardless of your age, and I say this in spite of the fact that “bibles” can purchased in digitalized formats via apps for your phone or personal computer. Yes, I am from the Baby Boomer generation, and it is evident because I have not kept up with the bible app technology. I’m sure it works, but what if your connection is not working or the battery loses it’s charge, or some other unexpected malfunction occurs? How can you do your Bible Study homework if your electronic device does not work? For you preacher and teachers, what is your device goes haywire in the middle of your prepared sermon or lesson? I suggest that you have your favorite translation of the bible available in print.
I know! I’m an old school person in a new school world. But I can always depend on my worn-out bible, looking like it has been attached to the bumper of the family car and forcefully dragged through the streets on a daily basis. Worn in appearance, but you want to know something? It works for me.
Old school? Yes, I still am impressed by individuals who I see on Sunday morning walking to church with bibles in their hands or standing on the corner waiting for the bus, rain or shine, with bibles in their hands. That’s a teaching moment in itself, for those bibles being carried, serve as an object lesson about depending on the word of God. Bibles…
New school people, please don’t read me wrong. The new technology is okay, but make sure you keep a copy of the printed word with you, just in case you have a power interruption, or a service discontinued. This is for you iPad preacher too; the ones who delay preaching because their device is not functioning! Smile! For every pew member, be assured that you will be able to quickly find one of the minor prophets or little read books of history or poetry, without delaying the Lord’s messenger when he or she tells you to open your bibles to such a book, if you get familiar with handling your bibles in printed form. Let me share an analogy.
Last Friday, I noticed a crack in the windshield of our family car; a car that had lane watch or lane assist technology, as well as a forward collision warning system, and other high-tech driver assistance equipment; including all kind of cameras. The crack I saw, it didn’t care about all that technology, not one bit. It was not inhibited, and nothing interfered with its destructive journey up my windshield. It started as an undetectable spot, caused by a rock bouncing off the road from lose pavement, a rock cause to ricochet off the car in front of me, or a piece of hard debris that fell of a truck that was more than a car-length ahead of me. The crack had grown faster than a watered plant grows a new leaf overnight. A couple days later, on Sunday, as I was driving to pick up a couple of saints on the eastside of town, every time a car pulled beside me, one of the loud audio signals from the malfunctioning driver assist technology equipment would go off. Even when I just pulled besides another vehicle at a stoplight it would go off. As a side note: Have you ever noticed how light the traffic is on Sunday mornings before Sunday School time? What’s up with that my friend? Smile again, even though that was a serious side note. Back to my story. To keep the assist technology systems from going off, when I came to a red light, I would put the car in park to stop the irritating noise. I said to myself, “I never had those technical problems with my old cars!” Guess what? I have never had problems with my printed bible either.
Bibles, you can depend on the printed word. If you have donated all of yours to the thrift shop or you have given them all away or if they are merely decoration objects in your home or a sun-catcher in near the back window of your car, or it is only touched when dusting, I recommend you either purchase one of several good study bibles available or you use the one you have just laying around. I guarantee you will profit from it.
My final word, old school or new school, make sure you have bibles that you can access quickly to hear what the voice of God has to say to you at any given time. Have a great Friday! Stay God-conscious! Be like Ezra, whether you or new school or old school when it comes to bibles. See below. I’ll be in touch tomorrow, Lord willing! Be blessed!
“Ezra had committed himself to studying the Revelation of God, to living it.” (Ezra 7:10a The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King