By Ken Fletcher
“I am confident the Bible is God’s thoughts to me. It’s much more than what some view as an antiquated book. If I did not have personal interaction with the Bible, I might look at it wrongly also. I might have been deceived too! But, I HAVE had personal interaction with the truth of the Bible. It IS practical! It works! If it were not true, I would have certainly found out in 52 years of living with Jesus.
Someone might say, well, I tried doing it and it did not work. The only thing that happened is the Bible tried YOU and found you in lack of faith and patience. To receive from God, you fill yourself with God’s word on the subject. Which is His will. You get rid of doubt. You believe it and act upon it’s truth. Just like you would do with a doctor or lawyer or your best friend. But, God cannot lie. So, it is more sure and steadfast than anyone or anything.
God always does what He says He will do. It’s on our part that things are not right. We’re the ones who don’t believe and receive! God is not holding anything out on anybody! He is after our good in every way. Every time I have truly locked in to His Word by faith I have received! Not because I am some great faith man. No. But only because of His grace to bring me into a place of faith in what He said was mine.
It’s all about, do I believe what He said He did or not? Right there in the Bible! The trouble is, folks are so distracted with the world and their relation to it that they take their focus off of the truth of God’s Word. That’s why I encourage people to stay solid on the foundation of our faith. Which is the word of God.
When you hear God speak, you can believe it. And, when you believe it, you will act upon it. You will claim it. You will say it. You will live it. When you believe God’s word, you are taking Him at His word before you see or feel anything. Regardless if you see or feel anything, you believe what He said.
If you do not have the foundation of His word within you, you have no foundation to place your faith in. You will end up going by the 5 senses. But, faith in God’s word is our spiritual sense. This is what we do. This is who we are! Believers! Believers in what? God’s word!
It’s either true or lets throw it away! But, it IS true! I have been encouraged in times of despair because of my belief in God’s word. I have been physically healed on many occasions because of my faith in what God said. I have received valuable information to guide my life from His word. Comfort. Strength. Insight. Understanding. Wisdom. And on and on it goes.
If I have not received what God said is mine, lets be clear, it was my own fault. For one reason or another it was me. He never has failed me yet! And, I know He never will! Why? Friends, it is IMPOSSIBLE for Him to lie to us! Why don’t we believe Him? Why don’t we take Him at His word on things? It is so foolish!
So many people do not believe the Bible. Does the lack of their believing make it not so? Only for them! If they don’t believe it, certainly, it will not work for them! It will not be true for them! Even though it is true! It is a book of faith. Lack of faith in the word will lock you out! Every time! We must approach what God has said as true or we won’t get much benefit from it. So sad. It becomes just another ordinary ancient book.
But, I’m here to tell you that if you are believing and placing your life upon another foundation, you will find that other foundation is not true. Even though it may seem like it’s true. I choose to place my eternity upon God’s word. I know it is true. I have seen it come to pass in my life many many times.
This man named Jesus! This Jesus of the Bible. What is that all about? Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word. Jesus IS the Word personified as we see in John chapter 1. Because of love, Jesus came for humanity. To bridge the huge divide and chasm between us and God. It is true! Just as the Bible says. It’s all true!
Jesus really did what He said He would do. He defeated death and hell. He physically walked out of His grave! To die no more! But, He did it all for us! He came for us! To make us alive with His life! Our faith in what God’s word says produces God’s reality in our life. We believe it. We receive it. We live in faith in God and His unchangeable integrity. Jesus is our solid rock of truth.
Everything else in this world can be deceptive. But, God’s word will last forever! Long after everything on earth is gone. If it has not worked for me, it has been my own fault. Even in those times when I have failed, the Lord has been so kind and understanding to show me where I went wrong. I have come to know that no matter where we are in faith, He completely understands why.
It is amazing how Jesus can take us from a place of unbelief into a place of faith. It seems to me that in each challenge we face in life, there is a unique path of faith through it. What Jesus is showing me is we can hear from Him and be directed into faith about it. A particular path into faith. A path into victory!
Jesus is faithful. His word does not fail. I like the saying that has been around since I can remember. It says, Jesus can do anything!–Anything but fail! I like that one! He came, He died, three days later, He came alive again from the grave, He IS coming again!
There are those who dare to believe God’s word, the Bible. There are those who want to stay where they are in belief apart from the Bible. But, they can all do as they wish. I have come to personally know Jesus of the Bible. And, I can tell you He is much more than we can conceptualize in this life. And, I can tell you that He is faithful.
He will never leave you! Ever! That is, if you have received Him. Jesus IS the Lord of Life! Our entrance by grace to the Father God! There is no other One like Him! Anywhere! Your believing makes the difference.
Do you think you are okay with God? Maybe you feel like God is some sort of universal force. Well, He is! But, He is much more than that! To believe God is just a force is to believe very very partially about Him. He IS a Father. Our Father! We ARE His children! We ARE His family! Jesus has made it so!
Even though Jesus has brought us His eternal life, it’s what we want that makes the difference. Do we want Him? Or do we want our own way? Our own belief? Do we believe our own way is God’s way? Or do we believe what God says about what makes us right with Him?
Friend, God has already carried your sins and mess ups to the cross of Jesus. As far as He is concerned, you are forgiven and free! Just receive Jesus and His life. But, what do you say? I pray that you will agree with God and receive Jesus of the Bible, God’s Son, as your Lord today!” KF KenFletcher.org
