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Philippines, 05 Dec 2024 |
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THE GREAT BOUT AND THE BIBLE By Reni M. Valenzuela PhilBoxing.com Sat, 01 Feb 2014  Boxing great George Foreman posted on his Facebook last December 22: ?Interpretation of a love letter is given only to lovers to whom it is written? How can someone express a quote from the Greatest Book of Love without a sit down with the ?Lover of all mankind Who wrote it?? The Word of God, who cares? Finding the Bible uninteresting is taking the path of least resistance tantamount to depriving one?s self of Heavens goodness to a great many people who are constantly searching for the meaning of life. Irony: It is in reading the same book they brand as boring and absurd where they find The Answer to fill the void. With all his intelligence and mastery over other creatures on earth, how foolish man can be to demolish the very foundation upon which every soul and nation should stand by neglecting, worse, rejecting its statutes and precepts. The Bible is outdated and impractical, so it seems to be ?learned? and ?well-informed.? Hence they take Divine Providence out of the picture, ?professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.? No wonder our world is crumbling. John Calvin, a French Reformer of the sixteenth century, wrote: ?Unless God?s Word illumines the way, the whole life of men is wrapped in darkness and mist, so that they cannot but miserably stray. The Lord does not shine upon us, except when we take His Word as our light.? The Bible is life at its best if its wisdom is applied. It is the fastest selling book of all time, the Textbook of life for all men. Nothing in the world may come close to it in comparison. Scientists, archeologists, philosophers, agnostics and atheists had ?bonded? together in the past to disprove, invalidate and discredit the authenticity of the Holy Bible being completely the Word of God. Charles Darwin, Henry Buckle, George Adam Smith, Copernicus and Lyell were men of ?great minds? in history who are eternally remembered for their intellectual blunders. ?One more century and the Bible will be no more,? said Voltaire, a satirist of his time. Not too long after he declared that, though, he died a miserable man in 1778, wanting to cry out for mercy but it was too late. More than two centuries had passed since then and the Bible is still very much around and keeps on working wonders in millions of lives. Voltaire?s mansion in Geneva, Switzerland was purchased by Geneva Bible Society and converted into a printing shop that produced Bibles. George Washington, America?s first president, could have not put it any better, ?It is impossible to rule the world without God and the Bible.? ?Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my Words shall not pass away.? ? Luke 21:33 The Bible is the Book of books. Alone it stands supreme above others. But how can it be, to a vast extent, relevant to people of any race and generation? Why is it exceedingly important to man? What makes it gainfully pleasurable? In what way can it be appreciated? And how come it?s indispensable to salvation and happy living? Not only do I enjoy reading the Holy Scriptures and benefit from it, personally, but it turned out to be my LIFE. Without it, I can?t survive a day. It is to me a well of living water from which I quench my thirst. From its pages I take my loaf fresh from Heaven. It?s the air that I breathe and the very life-blood that surges through veins. God?s Word is the source of my strength. Grace springs forth from its breath. Out of its splendor and beauty I draw inspirations. I marvel to no end at its alluring charm. And by virtue of its ?magic? and authority, I?ve been made to yield. The Word of God never runs out fascination. Its writ is wisdom transfigured in its purest. Its power is girding, bidding me prevail in battles. Its inerrancy is incredible, transcending human grasp. In between queues and ridges, I see ?reality? before a full-length mirror of the Rhema word and, as always, amid reflections and complexities, despite the snags, I find the Lord ?walking on water.? I have been its captive; and I?ve been set free! The Testaments are the pilgrim?s passage to the other ?realm? severed by a huge gulf. From Genesis to Revelation, its canon is full narratives, parables, facts, miracles and shadows of things to come all for men?s admonitions and conquest of himself. Not a single voice of prophecy it imparts has ever failed, and the fulfillment of each episode in its entirety forges ahead to unfold, leaving no stone unturned. The Bible does not contain the Word of God: It is The Word of God. It is not just a book: It is The Book. My whole being rests on its unbounded majesty. My future is anchored on the bounty of its promises. And my confidence hinges on the richness of its grandeur. ??the Words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.? - John 6:63 ?Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.? - Psalm 119:105 The Lord has proven Himself time and again to be worthy and true as He is propounded in the Word. I never cease to discover Him faithful each morning for I start my day dipping into The Book and engaging its Author in a closed door heart-to-heart conversation. I cherish every word and dot in its every leaf because it is God?s love letter to me. And that?s the argument behind my zeal and the rationale I know why my passion burns. I delight in the tenderness of His touch and the rapture of His warm embrace as daily I submerge myself into the Scriptures. It?s awesome taking God at His Word! Since I got into a relationship with Jesus Christ many years ago, I continue to be amazed and shed tears of joy each time I read His Love Note. He never fails. He never falters. Whenever, whatever and wherever, the Word of God always had me under its spell. Take my life but not His Word for by it I have found the Lord to be my all. Whole creation must realize that, apart from the Bible, there is no way to know God. How magnificent getting intimately yoked with our Maker through His Word and how delightful that life is worth living. The song describes it is so intrinsic for me, ?the greatest thing in all my life is knowing You.? ?I have esteemed the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.? ? Job 23:12 The Word of God builds me up! It is my comfort when I grieve; my friend when I?m down; my companion when I?m lonely. If I?m hurt, it soothes the pain. In times of despondency, it makes me see tomorrow brighter than ever. It is my fortress when I?m up against odds; my shelter in the midst of storms, my gorgeous garment in nakedness; a shining glory, a gleaming luster and a crowning cap on my head. The Word of God is the rod when I err; my map when I stray; my compass when I?m lost. His Word is faith to my doubts, healing to my body, peace to my mind, gladness to my spirit, heaven to my world. God speaks in every line and His Word is everything to me, ?For in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.? ? John 1:1 Bible Ambassador Manny Pacquiao was quoted as saying, ?The Bible encourages us to read God?s Word in order for us to KNOW THE TRUTH (for the Truth will set us free) ? The old Pacquiao is dead. The new has come (II Corinthians 5:17).? (This article is in conjunction with this week?s celebration of the National Bible Week. God bless the Philippines and the nations of the world. Mabuhay!) renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com Click here to view a list of other articles written by Reni M. Valenzuela.  |
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