The Inexhaustible Depth Of The Bible


Terry G. Jones


The Bible is the most remarkable book in all the world. No book has drawn greater attention, over such a broad area, for so long a time. No book has changed more lives, shaped more societies, prevented more wars, influenced more decisions, comforted more sorrows, ordetermined more destinies than The Holy Bible. Truly, it is the Book of books.


The Bible has many unique qualities, but consider one of them in particular. Unlike other books that are read then set aside, the Bible is read for a lifetime. Folks all around the globe read the Bible every day and have no plans ever to cease doing so. How is it that one can explore the Bible for an entire lifetime without its getting old, boring, and stale? The answer to that question is that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is designed by God to be simple enough to be understood by the novice, yet it contains an inexhaustible depth of information that forever keeps it fresh and exciting.


The Bible is an inexhaustible source of knowledge. The primary reason to study the Bible is to learn what God has to say to us. Ignorance has its consequences. In Hosea 4:1, the Lord said, “… There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.” Then, in verse six, He said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” How sad it is that multitudes are dying in ignorance, when God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). The knowledge one gains from deep study of the Scriptures is very valuable. Paul said, “But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). As we study the Bible, there is no end to our learning about God and all He has given to provide for our happiness. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).


The Bible is an inexhaustible source of strength. As daily exercise strengthens the physical body, daily Bible study will strengthen us spiritually. It will provide the strength we need to endure temptation. “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). The psalmist said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Searching the Scriptures will also provide strength to overcome all our troubles. “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2).


The Bible is an inexhaustible source of hope. The consequence of sin is eternal punishment in hell (Romans 6:23). Paul reminded the Ephesians of the time prior to their obedience, “that at that time you were without Christ … having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). In the very next verse he said, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Look at the difference Christ makes! Christians stand “in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2). Paul said, “for whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). The longer we study the Bible, the more confidence we build in our hope of heaven. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast …” (Hebrews 6:19).


The Bible is God’s precious gift to strengthen and keep us from now to eternity. We could more closely drink the ocean dry than we could exhaust the depths of the Bible. -206 E. Penn Ave., Pennsboro, WV 26415.



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