When the date was getting close to my son taking his R.E.
GCSE exam I asked him how his revising was coming along. His reply was there
was no need to study because the only answers you needed for this particular
paper were God, Jesus and The Bible. He bore this out by saying one of the
questions in the mock paper was “who did the two disciples meet on the Damascus
Road” so, not knowing the answer, opted for one of his stock replies, Jesus –
and, of course, he was right.
Whereas this might be a somewhat flippant response, typical
of a teenage boy not wanting to waste precious moments going over old notes
when he could be linking up with his friends on Xbox, and not particularly
showing our education system in very good light if there really were only three
possible choices for the answers in this subject, it did get me to thinking
that he wasn't far from the truth. By turning to God, Jesus or The Bible the
majority of today’s problems can either be solved or we will be given the
strength, change of attitude or ability to work them through.
God is the creator of all things and, as I sit typing this
in my garden on a warm May afternoon, it is easy to believe this. The birds are
singing, the flowers are blooming and white fluffy clouds drift across the sky.
The sound of my neighbours enjoying the day in their gardens with happy
children laughing as they splash in a paddling pool while the mouth-watering
smell of BBQ’s drifts through the air make for an idyllic picture of family
life and it is natural to thank God for all He has provided. It is not always so
easy to do this when the rain and wind come, the neighbours are fighting with
each other and the kids are screaming but God is still there all the same, loving
us through the good and the bad and He always wants the best for us whether we
see it or not. We just need to trust in Him and focus on what He wants us to
do, not what the world is telling us do. We have to remember that God has a
different agenda to ours and His plan is far more intricate than we ever dare
imagine. Do what you know is right with Him and everything else will fall in to
place. It might seem impossible and you feel the task is too mighty but if it
is from God the doors will open and He will give you strength and knowledge. With
God all things are possible and He has the answer to everything.
Jesus is not only the Son of God, He is our friend, our
brother, our Saviour and even acts as an intercessor between us and our
heavenly Father. He is also very much alive and lives in every believer’s heart
through His Holy Spirit. With this we are equipped to discern what is good and
bad, what is from God and what is not and enables us to tap into the very
thoughts of God. Jesus loved us all so much that He took our place on the cross
and died for our sins. Just think, the very worst thing that you have ever done
was the very moment that He died in your place – it makes me so ashamed to
think that He even knows what I did, let alone took my punishment for me. All I
have to do is believe who He is, what He did and that He was raised,
victorious, from the dead and I will spend eternity with Him – how incredible
is that? But while I am here on earth in my mortal body I can talk to Him and
ask Him to show me the way He wants me to go. All the answers lie with Jesus so
just fix your eyes on Him and you cannot go wrong.
The Bible is the very word of God in handy book form for us
to delve into whenever we want. Whatever you want to know in relation to the
way you live or about getting on with others, you will find the answer in this
wonderful book. It never ceases to amaze me that I can read a particular
passage of scripture time and time again, believing I understand what it is
saying then, suddenly, the meaning changes and leaps at me off the page coming
alive and becoming relevant to a particular circumstance I am in at that
moment. Of course, this is not always a pleasant experience because sometimes
the words convict me of something that is wrong in my life which I need to change.
Just like old Jonah who’s first instinct was to run in the opposite direction
from where God wanted him to go, I do not always want to obey what the Word is
telling me and quickly turn the page. However, the Bible is no ordinary book,
it might have been written thousands of years ago but it is just as relevant to
me today as it was when it was first put on paper. This is the living Word of
God and it will not let me go – every time I open my Bible the same message
comes through loud and clear, wherever I turn – even when I am in church and
others read or preach I hear that same message piercing its way into my heart. In the end my only option is to do what it is
telling me. And then I have peace.
Of course, as a more mature Christian I would also add the
Holy Spirit and prayer to the list as they act as ‘telephone lines’ between the
others but I don’t think my son was far wrong in his statement – the answer to
all questions is either God, Jesus or The Bible!
