I was alone and abandoned, forgotten and utterly without hope. As I lay there, I found a Bible nearby, left quite by accident, and I was led to begin reading. The words filled me with a rather unexplained, yet certain calm, and as I followed the instructions given me by someone I knew long ago (“read John first”), I suddenly understood things a bit better; I found I could cope (John, 1: 1-14):
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. “
In this first set of words I understood everything I needed to understand. The words were beautiful, sheer poetry, absolutely inspirational, and I began reading the Bible over-and-over; that was about six years ago. In this time, I’ve read the Bible through about 2 dozen times or more, led or engaged-in countless Bible studies, written many articles, authored songs, led gospel musical groups, and found great comfort while going through life’s greatest trials.
Do I still worry? Yes! Do I still become angry or do stupid things? Of course! I am only human, of course. However, I’ve learned that all I’ve ever done wrong has been “covered” by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus: believe it or not.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. ” (Isaiah 41:10). ” In the throes of great trouble, I often find this verse strengthening. It reminded me long ago that I was not alone, and it reminds me today of my importance and my reason for hope. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11). I was reminded in this verse that I am important, that my future is assured, and that somehow I will be allowed to make some kind of meaningful contribution to our world.
In the Proverbs, many of which were authored by King Solomon, we find wisdom which surpasses understanding. I often ask myself how Solomon, a man who corrupted himself with “worldly pleasures” could come-back to author some of the most profound statements. The answer, I believe, comes from the phrase “The fear of the LORD,” which more appropriately means a “reverential awe” of what God has done and who He is. Solomon came to understand that “awe,” as did I. Also, the word “mercy” is better translated “loving kindness.”
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:5)
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (Proverbs 10:27)
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15:16)
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 15:33)
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23)
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4)
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. (Proverbs 23:17)
Life throws lemons, trouble, disaster, and we often do not understand the suffering we endure or the suffering we see. We blame God, deny God, we turn away and say God is vengeful and full of anger. This is not as it appears. Paul, in Romans, explains it well, and it is echoed throughout the Bible in various places:
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations (trouble) also: knowing that tribulation (trouble) worketh patience (perseverance);
And patience (perseverance), experience (character); and experience (character), hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5)
Jesus’ brother James continues to confirm this:
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:2-4)
Simply said, life’s struggles, challenges, and problems presents us with a chance to shine, or a chance to give-up. Those who persevere, who press-on towards the prize, will find their rewards right before them, and this kind of experience causes us to remember what we’ve been through, how we’ve survived before, and how we’ll survive again. No one lives without trouble. How we handle disaster and how we react to life’s vicissitudes will help us to grow.
The book “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl is a powerful lesson in finding how to survive the worst of the worst. A similar concept, living for a purpose other than one’s own, is presented in “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Both books are recommended reading, however the former may well help many people overcome the very worst of times. A final, and most important book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, drives many Biblical principles of “purpose” home.
The Bible also gives us the ultimate answer to how best to address such challenges.
Faith: that is the answer. What is faith and what is the etymology (that is, the understanding of the word’s origin)? The word in ancient Hebrew more closely translates “Faithfulness,” and this implies an unbending, unyielding hope in something we cannot see or understand. We simply understand and we follow and we obey.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ” (Hebrews 1:11). “…but the just shall live by his faith…” (Habakkuk 2:4b). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. ” (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
In the verse of Ephesians, we find the entire rationale of Christianity: being saved by sheer faith, and not by any kind of deeds. If we could, as so many “religions” claim, save ourselves by good deeds, well, then what sense is there to salvation? However, the one who perseveres to the end, believing when there is no hope, seeking the decency found in the words of the Bible, is the one who ultimately wins.
Certainly, “faith without works” is meaningless, as James (Jesus’ brother) says in James 2:20. In this powerful statement, we are reminded that we are free to perform “random acts of kindness” because we are saved; it is altruism in its purest form, for the sake of love and decency, and not just to save one’s own skin or soul!
One can continue to search for inspirational Bible Verses. The most often quoted, John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “) deserves the final mention, and it focuses our attention on the final act, which was and is the first act: LOVE.
If God exists, and if God created all, then God created love. Wow! “God IS love!” (1 John 4:8, 4:16).