Do I Know Enough?

More than 350 million Christians live in places where individuals are persecuted simply due to their faith in Jesus Christ. This translates to 1 out of every 7 Christians globally who fall into this category (OpenDoors.com).  More than 50 countries have severe restrictions on the possession of the Bible, ranging from a total ban on the book to having merely one page of the Scriptures.

As I thought about this, I had to ask myself, “Do I know enough of the Bible to sustain me if it was taken away and my church was forced to close?” “Could I teach my grandchildren the basic doctrines of Scripture that would lead them to salvation and eternal life through Christ?” “Could God use me to share His precious gospel with the lost souls in my family and/or neighborhood if I had no Bible?”

Do I even need to worry about this? After all, I live in America. Many would argue that this type of persecution would never happen in a country founded on Biblical principles, one where every individual has certain inalienable rights as our Declaration of Independence states. It couldn’t occur in a country whose Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, could it? Frankly, there have been many things happening in our country in recent years that I never imagined would happen in our nation. Things that violate the very document that was put in place to protect the individual rights of every citizen. If the Constitution is ignored today and lawmakers assume they know best for you and me, what will that look like tomorrow?

So, the compelling question in my mind is, “How much Scripture have I ‘hidden in my heart’?” I cannot imagine my life without the holy Word of God, yet as I see things unfolding here in the United States and around the world, I know I don’t have as much of the Bible committed to my memory as I would like or as I would need.

So, what do I do? Interestingly enough, the answer is found in the Bible itself. Here is what God Himself tells me to do.

1. Memorize as many verses in Scripture as I can.
   1. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” – Colossians 3:16
   2. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:” – Deuteronomy 6:6

2. Teach the Scriptures to children.
   1. “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” – Deuteronomy 6:7
   2. “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

3. Live according to God’s Word
   1. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” – James 1:22
   2. “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” – Philippians 2:16

It is my prayer that America never becomes a Godless nation, and that Bibles are never taken away from us. However, as the hatred for anything remotely Christian escalates, the future is uncertain. Therefore, I will strive to hold fast “… the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” – Titus 1:9

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

(from “How Firm a Foundation” by G. Keith and R. Keen)

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:13

**********

Would your life be any different without the Bible?