Steadfast and Immovable

Preface Beloved young reader, there are many things in this book that I wish that I had known when I was your age. Even so, I am eternally thankful to God for opening my eyes to these precious truths, when it pleased Him so to do. How merciful God is! My prayer is that this book would be profitable to you. Profitable because in it, I exhort (earnestly encourage) you to live each day entirely by the Book and by the leading of the Holy Spirit who gave us the Book. The Book that I speak of is the Holy Bible. The Bible is the greatest book in the world. This is no hyperbole, because the Bible has no true rival. It is the only book in the world whose author is God. In His perfect wisdom, God chose to use human agency to communicate important truths to us. But human instrumentality in its writing and compilation does not make the Word of Almighty God any less powerful, awe-inspiring or dependable. The Holy Bible is the only book that trustworthily tells us our origin and our history, as well as our future. It is the only book that has an answer to the universal problem of sin. And it is the only book that tells us about eternity, with divine and total authority. It is incomparable. The Bible is our most valuable possession. Through the ages, devout men and women have treasured the Holy Bible and delighted in the living Word of God. Note how the psalmist rejoiced in God’s Word: Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. (Psalm 119:111) God-fearing Job powerfully portrayed the necessity and preciousness of God’s Word when he said, I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:12b) Jeremiah the prophet said of the Word of God: Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16) Jesus, the very Son of God, said of His divine words: The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63b) Consider these commentaries on the Bible from godly men in different periods of history: The Word is both a glass to show us the spots of our soul and a laver to wash them away. (Thomas Watson, A Body of Practical Divinity) The vigour of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts. (George Müller, A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller) The Bible has life-giving power. As we read it, we know there is in it a Spirit that speaks to our spirit, a Life that touches our life. (William M. Evans, The Book of Books) Indeed, the Bible is God’s priceless gift to us. At the coronation of a new monarch in England, the Bible is presented to the monarch with these words: We present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. (Emphasis added) Indeed, it is. Nothing of this world, no mountains of gold and silver or anything else, can compare in its power, wisdom and eternal worth. Biblical Exhortations and the Goodness of God The Bible is full of exhortations. Biblical exhortations are directions, pleadings and appeals given by God for our spiritual life, health and protection. All Christians are instructed to receive godly exhortation (Hebrews 13:22). God is omnibenevolent and He exhorts us because of His great goodness. What joy it is to know that our holy and all-powerful Creator is gracious, slow to anger and full of mercy (Psalm 145:8–9; Ephesians 2:4–5). God has charitably provided, at so great a cost, for the eternal welfare and salvation of unworthy sinners. The most famous verse in the Bible sums up God’s supreme goodness to humanity: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) This famous verse addresses our deepest need. The Bible teaches that we all have sinned against God (Romans 3:23). God hates sin; sin is the opposite of righteousness. Sin destroys lives. It disfellowships us from our Maker and it ultimately leads to hell. It is through God’s Word that we can know of the infinite holiness of God and the true horror of our mutiny against Him. Hell was created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), but all that remain rebellious and unholy will have a place there (Revelation 21:8). Our greatest need, then, is to know and to embrace God’s forgiveness won at the Cross for us, and to receive a new nature, a new heart that loves righteousness. It is through God’s precious Word that we learn of Jesus, the only Saviour and Deliverer from the penalty and the power of sin. Dear one, you must lay hold of the Bible as your firm foundation for life. The Word of God is the only source of true light in this dark and sin-ravaged world. Consider the Bible’s description of worldlings (unbelievers) here: 29 Having been filled with all unrighteousness, whoredom, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers, 30 evil-speakers, God-haters, insulting, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 unintelligent, faithless, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. (Romans 1:29–‍31, Young’s Literal Translation) In the perfect justice of God, this evil, sin-filled world is doomed, destined for destruction (2 Peter 3:7; Daniel 2:44). God has promised a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:4). Dear reader, have you been forgiven of your sins? Have you taken refuge in Christ the Saviour? Christians are those who have been spiritually awakened to flee from the final wrath of God against sinners. Christians are those who have received divine mercy, forgiveness and saving faith. We have been granted the power to turn away from the City of Destruction (the world) and to journey to the Celestial City (heaven), where God dwells. Beloved Christian, the Bible is our only trustworthy guide to heaven.