IS THE BIBLE GOD'S WORD TO US?
By Daniel Nettleton
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. WE believe that there is one true and living God, and that the holy Bible is a revelation of His character and will to us. If there is one true First Great Cause (and none but the fool has said there is no God), is it not reasonable that He would make a revelation of Himself to His creatures? Will the all-wise Creator, after having made us and placed us in this world, abandon us and never have a thought or care for us further? Would not that be contrary to the law of parentage? Do not the parents love to care for and communicate with their offspring? The apostle Paul, when reasoning with the heathen of Athens, who had erected an image to the "unknown god," and were ignorantly worshiping it, desired to convince them that God is not an unfeeling being, like a cold piece of gold or marble, but a living, loving, and merciful Father. So he addressed them in these words: "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by and beheld your devotions [gods that ye worship], I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men's hands, as tho He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, tho He be not far from every one of us; for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." Acts 17:22-29. Our all-wise, almighty, loving Father has not left us comfortless. He speaks to us. All nature cries out that He loves us. The flowers; the birds, in their cheerful songs of praise; the grass; the woods that clap their hands with joy; the sparkling fountains and laughing brooks; the deep, broad rivers that flow in silence to the sea; the great mountains; and the mighty ocean; all, all proclaim "the Hand that made us is divine." Vocal speech is not the only language, the encircling of the arm of flesh is not the only embrace; the bright-faced sky, the sweet-scented, and beautiful spring, the golden fields of grain, and rich harvests of autumn, and innumerable anthems and tokens of joy, are all expressions of His power and love. "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead." Rom. 1:20. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, without these their voice is heard." Ps. 19:1-3, margin. The open book of nature is not the only book God has written for His children. The Holy Bible is to man a letter of affection from our loving Father. "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace." "This Book, this holy Book, on every line
Marked with the seal of high Divinity,
On every leaf bedewed with drops of love
Divine, and with the eternal heraldry
And signature of God Almighty stamped.
From first to last this ray of sacred light,
This lamp, from off the everlasting throne,
Mercy brought down, and in the night of time
Stands, casting on the dark our gracious bow,
And evermore beseeching man with tears
And earnest sighs, to read, believe, and live." The Bible is a library of books, sixty-six in number. It was written by thirty-two persons at different times, covering a period of sixteen hundred years. It was written by men in every phase of life, from the lowly shepherds to the wisest and greatest monarchs that have ever governed nations. It was written in9lonely deserts, in the shade of a great rock in a weary land, by the mournful waters of the great Euphrates, in great cities, and on rock-bound, storm-beaten Patmos. When the Egyptians were writing riddles upon their monuments to baffle the blind inquirers of succeeding years, Moses, the man of God, was writing the clear, simple story of Creation, the fall of man, and the plan of his redemption from sin. "And never earth's philosopher
Traced with his golden pen,
On the deathless page words half so sage,
As he wrote down for men."