Aloha Dearest Family,
Many people
know that I am a big fan of the Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs (yes, this
is another Tarzan reference). Many years ago I read my first book called Son
of Tarzan, and since then I was hooked. My wife and I then spent the next
five years tracking down all the other original Tarzan books (24 in all).
Now
whenever a new Tarzan movie comes out I always have to weigh it against the
novels. After this last Tarzan film, for example, my sons and I picked it apart
for a week, discussing all of the discrepancies. Our verdict? Not good. They
should have read the books.
I feel the
same way about the Bible. Many years ago when someone taught me that the Bible
is really God’s revealed Word and Will, I was hooked. I realized that if I
wanted to know God’s Will for my life, I would have to study His Word. Go to
the source of this knowledge so to speak. I wanted to know what God said rather
than what man says about God. Almost forty years later I am still a student of
the Bible, and it’s been a joy. God is still showing me cool stuff from His
Word and it never ceases to amaze me how inexhaustible God’s Word is. Like a fountain
that never runs dry.
Now after
years of biblical study, I’m not easily fooled. But the devil is never ceasing
in his efforts to try and draw me away. Man is always coming up with the next “new”
thing. Whether it be the next “new” theory or philosophy, or next “new” social
trend, it is a constant battle to determine truth from error. The reality is
that there is nothing new under the sun. It’s all been seen before.
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
But every “new” idea that comes around must always be
weighed against what God says in His Word to see if it lines up; if it doesn’t,
it’s wrong. The truth of God’s Word
is the standard that any other theory or philosophy is measured against. Furthermore, God
instructs His children to be wise and not be tricked.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
“That
we henceforth be no
more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” (Ephesians 4:14)
If we don’t
know God’s Word we could be fooled into believing every new thing that comes
along. It’s like someone coming up with the “new and improved Tarzan”,
(please).
Many people today are trying to
change the Bible to make it more “politically correct”. They should check with
the author first to see what He thinks. God’s Word is not like other books authored
by man. It is so much more – infinitely more.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
I recently saw a man wearing a T-shirt that said, “Only God
can judge me”. This shirt was saying that he could do whatever he wanted to do and
we didn’t have the right to judge his actions. The Word of God says that he has
already been judged. If his actions are not in accordance with God’s Word, he
is wrong.
The Bible NEEDS NO IMPROVEMENT. New ideas are neither
required nor desired. So let’s stick with God’s original best seller, His gold
standard for truth.
One more consideration . . . Truth stands the test of time.
What man devises can be gone with a stiff wind; whether it’s a thought or an
action, it can all be removed by something. The things of God are really the
only things that will last.
Love
Always, Ray
“..for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18b) See I told ya.
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