When God inspired men to pen the Scriptures, He had us in mind. One way He speaks to us today is through the records of His dealings with His people during biblical days. The objective is that through these accounts we might have hope.
The Bible puts it this way: “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4, KJV). So, how do the Scriptures give us hope?
The Scriptures attests to the faithfulness of God. Not one time do we find in the Bible where a person truly trusted God and the Lord failed him or her. These accounts date back thousands of years. But according to the Bible, these accounts also apply to us. “These things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come,” Paul writes (1 Corinthians 10:11, NASB).
The Scriptures reveal the ways of God. His ways are past finding out (Romans 11:33, KJV). They cannot be discovered by human adventure. The only things we know about His ways are the things He reveals to us through His Word. The more we study the Bible, the more we learn of His mysterious ways and infinite ability. The challenges before us will pale in comparison to these.
The Scriptures edify us. We are not only physical beings but we are spiritual as well. We don’t live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The Word of God is food for our spirit. Without His Word, we will be spiritually anemic. That appears to be the status of many believers today. A regular diet of the Word of God builds us up spiritually, resulting in boldness, faith, and unshakeable hope.
The Scriptures convey the love of God. Not only does God say repeatedly that He loves us but also He shows it. Not in abstract ways that require us to fill in the blanks. But through records of the experiences of people just like us who trusted Him and in the end experienced His faithfulness. Last, but not least, God gave us His beloved Son who gave Himself for us. His boundless love is the ultimate source of our hope.
Encouragement to Read the Scriptures
The Bible is a priceless heavenly treasure. Nothing on earth can compare to it. We should open and draw from the riches of the Scriptures every day. In doing so, we feed our faith and starve our doubts. This is not to say that things will always go well for those who place their trust in God. Trials belong to the just as well as the unjust.
But the Scriptures assure us of a pleasant end when we place our faith in God. All who forsake this heavenly treasure will lack this assurance because it can come only through trusting in the God of the Scriptures.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved