You Need to Read This Book!

The Bible has been the Book that held together the fabric of Western civilization. - H.G. Wells

George Washington, the first President of the United States, said about God’s Word, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without the Bible.” The legendary General Douglas MacArthur commented regarding the Scriptures, “Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed.” Famous author H. G. Wells observed, “The Bible has been the Book that held together the fabric of Western civilization... The civilization we possess could not come into existence and could not have been sustained without it.” (Image by Unsplash)

The first book printed on the Gutenberg press in 1455 was the Bible. Since then, it has become history’s best-selling book. Over 100 million are printed each year with over 6 billion currently in print around the world. It also is the world’s most widely translated and distributed book. Out of 7,394 languages spoken across all seven continents, 3,658 have either a full Bible or some portion of it.

It is without debate. The Bible has been and continues to be, the world’s most influential book by every measure. And that is against all odds. There is some level of restriction on Bible use in 33 nations, like North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. Historically and even presently, people have been jailed or killed for translating, printing, distributing, reading or even owning a Bible.

Why all this about the Bible? Because you need to read it! It is urgent. It will change your life, like it has millions of people down through the course of history. Here are seven reasons you need to start reading the Bible today.

1. The Bible reveals who your Creator is. “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens…” (Isaiah 45:12) You did not come from a tadpole or a big bang. You were hand crafted by Almighty God. The Bible helps you to know who you are and who God and His only Son is.

2. The Bible answers your greatest questions. “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) The Bible answers questions like, “What is my purpose in life?”, “Is there life after death?”, “Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?” and many more.

3. The Bible uncovers your supreme struggle. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” (Matthew 15:19-20) The Bible teaches how you have a heart problem, and it shows how you can get a new heart through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

4. The Bible teaches you how to live. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) The Bible teaches about marriage, family, relationships, conflicts, justice, finances, government, confronting evil, doing good to our neighbors and a wide range of other subjects.

5. The Bible is reliable. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16) When you open the Bible, you can trust it. It does not lie.

6. The Bible is your source of truth. “The sum of your word is truth…” (Psalm 119:160) God’s Word tells us what is right and wrong and good and evil. There are no guessing games when it comes to morals. God’s Word lays it out straight.

7. The Bible is your source of hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13) When you read the Bible and discover your Creator, find answers to big questions, receive forgiveness for your sins, learn how to live in difficult circumstances and encounter what is true and good – it inspires hope.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will bring people to read their Bible today. May they open its pages and discover the abundant riches of your grace and truth you have waiting for them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.