Do you have a favorite book? There are some stories that once we’ve read stick with us in our hearts and minds forever. Some favorite books sit on bookshelves, barely collecting dust, begging to be re-read simply because these tales evoke in us hope, adventure and a plethora of other emotions. Sometimes re-reading a book provides comfort or reassurance in difficult times, while others provide joy deep within the very fabric of who we are. In my bookshelf are a number of these such books, one in particular is so worn out from use that the hardcover binding finally gave way one day and I reluctantly grabbed a roll of duct tape and re-bound the cover to the contents therein. Yes, it was a desperate attempt to save something that I treasure, one might ask, “why didn’t you just repurchase the book and lay the old one to rest?” The answer is simple, this is my book, I have held it in my hands on countless evening, perched on various couches and chairs and poured over every word, phrase and punctuation mark. There are stains on the cover, pages with dog-ears and, though I am ashamed to admit it, fingerprint smudges on words because a good book requires the occasional good snack to accompany it.
Within the pages of this very well worn, tattered book, is a story that calls to the child in me every time I pick it up. As I read from its pages, this child, with big eyes of surprise and bewilderment, reconnects with the adventure and I am once again transported back into a land far away with characters that I have grown to love as if they actually live and breathe.
Isn’t it amazing that there is such power with words on pages in a book? It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword, and I would emphatically and wholeheartedly agree! Writers throughout the ages have written powerful things upon pages. For some, these writings brought worldwide success and their books became classics, highly touted as ‘ahead of their time’ or an ‘inspiration for all ages’. Still there are other writers have written books and documents in times of great darkness, and their convictions upon pages stirred their generation into revolution and war. Some writers faced prison sentences, work camps, while others were executed for their beliefs. Yes, there is great power in words!
John 1:1-2 (NKJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
The greatest book ever written is a collection of smaller books written by numerous authors. But its one centralized theme is captured through the love of God for His creation – human kind, and His desire for us to be reconciled to Him again through the once for all sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ. This book is called the Bible…and though written thousands of years ago, it still has the capacity to transform lives, restore broken hearts, and heal the spiritually sick. The word of God, as described in the gospel of John, has been around since the very beginning of time. God spoke the heavens and the earth into being merely by using words. When people refer to the Bible, they often call it God-breathed, implying that God’s hand has inspired and directed its writers to create these holy texts (emphasis on create). Truly the pen is mightier than the sword, but who created the pen? God has not only spoken us and everything around us into being through words, but we, as His creation have been given that inspiration to create just as He is our creator. Is it no wonder then that such great masterpieces of art, literature, and science still abound in our world today? After all we are made in God’s image and His attributes, though marred in us, still shine through in inspiration and in creativity. There are some whose creativity just oozes out of every pore…everything they touch just seems to produce quality art or literature. While in most of us that creativity drips slowly like a faucet in need of a new washer; we will have moments of frustrating blank pages and canvas’, uninspired failures which threaten to force our hands to reach for the white flag of surrender. Yet, when those moments of inspiration do come, may we unequivocally submerge ourselves into that frightening current of creativity that is God breathed! When we do so, we take a leap of faith, we take a risk, and though we cannot foresee the outcome we step boldly into the fray. Why? Why would we do something reckless and unsafe? It is because God, in all of His glory will not leave us or forsake us, and when we collect our courage and reaffirm this truth, we find ourselves daring to risk more for Him.
Isn’t it funny though, how often times we are so excited to pick up our favorite book from our bookshelf and read it with reckless abandon and yet we fail to pick up the very Word of God? Sometimes, if we were honest with ourselves our excuses would sound like this; “I know all the stories and all the teachings in the Bible, why should I read it anymore except on Sundays?” What we’re saying is God’s inspiration is limited to what I already know about Him…as if we have figured out all there is to know about God and the Bible. Other excuses we’ve used from time to time might range from, “It’s just so boring” to “I don’t get it”. But those were not the words of Brother Yun, a new convert to Christianity in communist China! He lived in a place where owning a Bible could get you and your whole family beaten and even sent to prison. The Word of God was prohibited in his country and yet that didn’t stop him from risking much in prayer and fasting in order to receive a copy of the Bible. His story is miraculous and wondrous, and should inspire us all to possess even a small portion of this man’s faith. Here is a brief excerpt of his how Brother Yun miraculously received his Bible:
“The old pastor simply told me, “The Bible is a heavenly book. If you want one, you’ll need to pray to the God of heaven…When I returned home I brought a stone into my room and knelt down on it every evening for prayer. I had just one simple prayer: “Lord please give me a Bible. Amen.” At that time I didn’t know how to pray, but I continued for more than one month. Nothing happened. A Bible didn’t appear. I went back to that pastor’s house again. This time I went alone. I told him, “I’ve prayed to God according to your instructions, but I still haven’t received the Bible I want so much. Please, please show me your Bible. Just a glance and I will be satisfied! I don’t need to touch it. You hold it and I will be content just to look at it. If I could copy down some of the words I will return home happy.” …(Later)…In the vision the old man took a red bag of bread from his trolley and asked his two servants to give it to me. He said, “You must eat it immediately.” I opened the wrapping, and say there was a bun of fresh bread inside. When I put the bun in my mouth, it instantly turned into a Bible! Immediately, in my vision, I knelt down with my Bible and cried out to the Lord in thanksgiving, “Lord, your name is worthy to be praised! You didn’t despise my prayer. You allowed me to receive this Bible. I want to serve you for the rest of my life.” I woke up and started searching the house for the Bible. …Suddenly I heard a faint knock at the door. A very gentle voice called my name. I rushed over and asked through the locked door, “Are you bringing the bread to me?” The gentle voice replied, “Yes, we have a bread feast to give you.” I immediately recognized the voice as the same one I had heard in the vision. I quickly opened the door and there standing before me were the same two servants I had seen in the vision. ..My heart raced as I opened the bag and held in my hands my very own Bible!” (The Heavenly Man, p. 27-30)
Perhaps it’s humbling to read of this experience. When reading it for the first time, it brought me to tears. At the same time it made me ashamed of how I had treated my Bible. It isn’t illegal to own one in my country yet these comforts all around me sometimes negate, in my own mind, the need for daily spiritual nourishment. Why do I doubt at times? Why can’t I pick up the Word of God like I do with my well-worn, duct taped favorite book? Why wasn’t I pouring through its pages, like I did with other books on my shelf? My passion had waned, and I found myself in need of that God-breathed inspiration once again in my heart.
So here I am, I’ve dusted off my personal study Bible, still ashamed yet I bare my Masters Image in my broken state. Breathe on me breathe of God…fill me with life anew.
Pastor's Ponderings 
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