“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
    Regardless of what you may have heard, there are NO mistakes and NO contradictions in the Holy Word of God!  Our shallow minds may not fully understand everything, but it was written under divine inspiration, it is authoritative and is to be trusted totally!
We find in Mark 12:10 Christ asked, “And have ye not read this Scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner”.  The Lord validated the reliability of the Scriptures by often quoting them both to His disciples and to the Pharisees.  Seven times Jesus said, “And have ye not read…?”, referring to the Holy Scriptures.  There is much we could say about the value of possessing God’s Holy Word in our hands, but I would like to suggest a few basic reasons the Holy Scripture was given:
                                                                             I. To Explain God’s Will
   Our Creator never intended mankind to walk through life in confusion and uncertainty.  And yet throughout the ages we have heard from the philosophers and arrogant intellectuals regarding their personal opinions on life and death.  We have but one true source to determine what is right and wrong in the issues of life, the Holy Scriptures!  Religious leaders of all faiths make their rules and laws, listing various belief systems.  The one common thread that unites them is the teaching that good deeds must be done to receive eternal life.  Notice the clear reply to this erroneous teaching in John 6:28,29: “Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent”.
   Some people prefer a mystical approach to determine their destiny rather than accepting the Word of God as it reveals the will of God.  The Bible explains to man that it is God’s will for them to live eternally in Heaven with Him.  “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). 
   We read from the book of Genesis through the book of Revelation about man’s sinful condition, and his need for a Saviour.  In the Gospels, it is clearly explained that God loves us so much; He gave His Son to die in our place.  This is the focal point of God’s revealed truth through His written Word!  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).  When a person receives Christ by faith they become children of God.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).  God’s will for the young Christian is to study the Bible and learn.  “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).  It is an ever-growing process of maturity and sanctification until we pass from this life and go to be with the Lord.  Space does not permit covering the various issues of God’s will that are outlined in the Bible, for a Christian moral life.
                                                                           II. To Proclaim God’s Wonder
    Much of the Bible describes the glory and majesty of God almighty.  “Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people.  For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:3,4).  We read about His miraculous work of creation and we marvel.  Atheists and evolutionists would have us believe their lies; “There is No God and everything we see on earth and in the universe just happened by chance, and evolved to modern times...”  Nonsense!  
     The Word of God never sets out to argue or defend the existence of God Almighty.  The very first verse in the first chapter simply declares, “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth!”  (Genesis 1:1).  The apostle Paul, when characterizing the deity of Christ boldly proclaimed, “For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:  And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16,17).
Through the Scriptures, we read about His omnipotence, and His omniscience, and His omnipresence and it astounds us beyond our comprehension.  “ Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”  (Exodus 15:11).  One must stand in awe when we consider the wonders of God!
                                                                             III. To Obtain God’s Wealth

   The Lord wants everyone to know His desire is to bless all of mankind, if they will come to Him.  What does that mean?  “That we might receive the adoption of sons…  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:5-7).  The Holy Scriptures are rich in promises made from the Heavenly Father to His children for blessings in this life and in that which is to come.  Christ said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  We may make many promises to our friends and family, but as humans we often fail to keep our word.  Because of the Holy nature of God, He cannot and will not lie, He always does what He promises.  “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2). 
The Bible is a wealth of promises for the children of God.  God wants to reward us for our faith in His Word.  He gave us the Bible so we could read it daily and find comfort in claiming His precious promises and obeying His will!  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
                                                                          IV. To Pronounce God’s Wrath
   “And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge Him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:47,48).  God has always been merciful and full of compassion.  We know this by the message of the cross, where God loved the world so much that He sent His innocent Son to die for the sins of the world.  And yet God is Holy and just!  The Lord has declared in His Word that there is a day of judgment coming for all!  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  The word of God is a Holy proclamation; it is a pledge from our Lord.  He states clearly the promise of eternal life and blessing for all that come to Him by faith.  And at the same time, He declares eternal damnation upon those that reject Him.  “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).  God’s wrath will be poured out upon the unbelievers.
   What about you my friend?  Have you read the Word of God?  He wants you to be saved and to escape His wrath.  “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).  I encourage you to go to God in a word of prayer if you are not sure about the destiny of your soul!   Pray to the Lord Jesus now, and ask Him to come into your heart!
If you do not know how to pray you could say something like this in your own words...  “Dear Lord, I do believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that God raised Him from the dead.  I now repent of my sin  trusting Jesus and Him alone to save my soul and take me to Heaven some day.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen!    

                                                                                                                                                               Tom Meador