There was an occasion one time when I was a little girl, I remember a Methodist pastor started coming regularly to our house to minister to us; especially my mother. Her life was very hard, there was seven of us, and my father did not know the Lord. He would not allow mother to go to church, or us kids, but she would play gospel music, and talked to us all about the Lord. She often told us we needed to “open the door of our hearts, and let Him in.” We didn’t know what she meant, but we never forgot her witness to us as we grew up.
This minister started coming every week, and began a bible study with mother, and we listened. Over the years, I saw mother study her bible alone quite a bit, and often spoke to us that he was born from a virgin, lived without sin, and died for us on the cross, and would come again some day.
So, as these bible studies developed, and they started reading and talking about the birth of Christ, and that he was born of a virgin, and the verses that spoke of his dying on the cross, and rising again from the grave, and coming again, the minister spoke things that sparked a heated conversation between him and mother. Every time she brought up the scriptures on these points, he made it clear he did not believe Jesus was born of a virgin, that he did not really die on the cross; and did not rise from the grave as the scriptures said. Then, he made the statement that he did not believe that Christ was literally going to come back to earth, and that all these statements and proclamations were allegories.
Finally, mother had heard enough. She looked him in the eye, and said; “If you don’t believe anything in this book that speaks of the basic truths of who Jesus says he is, why are you a minister? What are you trying to do here with us, teach us that the bible isn’t true?” He stumbled, and mumbled something about not wanting to argue or be in contention over doctrine. Mother replied “I’m not going to argue with you about this, I’ve read my bible and I believe it; cover to cover. Your statements make it clear you do not, it’s as simple as that.” With that, he got up, put on his jacket, and politely said his farewells. He never returned. As I look back on that now, it seems my mother was the real teacher in this situation.
Incidents like this in my life left a lasting impression on my soul. All the diplomas, education, and years of seminary training, cannot produce faith in a heart, it only comes in simple trust in God's word, that it is telling the truth.
After 30+ years of studying the bible, I still find it probing my heart, dealing with my inner man, convicting me of places that I need to surrender to the Lord. This journey down here on earth is given purpose, and direction when the word of God is placed where it belongs; front and center of our lives.
At the end of the day, we have to each take the scriptures in our private time in study and prayer, and make up our own minds. What we are going to do, are we going to believe what it says; or not.
Charles Spurgeon spoke on this, and I agree:
“Beloved, the keeping of every word of God is indispensable. It is indispensable to the truth of God that he should always be true: for if one word of his can fall to the ground, then all may fall, and his veracity is gone. If it can be demonstrated that one prophecy was a mistake, then all the rest may be mistakes. If one part of the Scripture is untrue, all may be untrue, and we have no firm ground to stand on.
If I am to take the Bible and say, “Some of this is true, and some of it is questionable,” I am no better off than if I had no Bible. A man who is at sea with a chart which is only accurate in certain places, is not much better off than if he had no chart at all. I do not see how it can ever be safe to be “converted and become as little children” if there is no infallible teacher for us to follow.”
On The Cross After Death No. 1956-33:193. A Sermon Delivered On Lord’ Day Morning, April 3, 1887, By C. H. Spurgeon, At The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.
Scripture to ponder:
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1cor. 15:12-20
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Lorna Couillard
This minister started coming every week, and began a bible study with mother, and we listened. Over the years, I saw mother study her bible alone quite a bit, and often spoke to us that he was born from a virgin, lived without sin, and died for us on the cross, and would come again some day.
So, as these bible studies developed, and they started reading and talking about the birth of Christ, and that he was born of a virgin, and the verses that spoke of his dying on the cross, and rising again from the grave, and coming again, the minister spoke things that sparked a heated conversation between him and mother. Every time she brought up the scriptures on these points, he made it clear he did not believe Jesus was born of a virgin, that he did not really die on the cross; and did not rise from the grave as the scriptures said. Then, he made the statement that he did not believe that Christ was literally going to come back to earth, and that all these statements and proclamations were allegories.
Finally, mother had heard enough. She looked him in the eye, and said; “If you don’t believe anything in this book that speaks of the basic truths of who Jesus says he is, why are you a minister? What are you trying to do here with us, teach us that the bible isn’t true?” He stumbled, and mumbled something about not wanting to argue or be in contention over doctrine. Mother replied “I’m not going to argue with you about this, I’ve read my bible and I believe it; cover to cover. Your statements make it clear you do not, it’s as simple as that.” With that, he got up, put on his jacket, and politely said his farewells. He never returned. As I look back on that now, it seems my mother was the real teacher in this situation.
Incidents like this in my life left a lasting impression on my soul. All the diplomas, education, and years of seminary training, cannot produce faith in a heart, it only comes in simple trust in God's word, that it is telling the truth.
After 30+ years of studying the bible, I still find it probing my heart, dealing with my inner man, convicting me of places that I need to surrender to the Lord. This journey down here on earth is given purpose, and direction when the word of God is placed where it belongs; front and center of our lives.
At the end of the day, we have to each take the scriptures in our private time in study and prayer, and make up our own minds. What we are going to do, are we going to believe what it says; or not.
Charles Spurgeon spoke on this, and I agree:
“Beloved, the keeping of every word of God is indispensable. It is indispensable to the truth of God that he should always be true: for if one word of his can fall to the ground, then all may fall, and his veracity is gone. If it can be demonstrated that one prophecy was a mistake, then all the rest may be mistakes. If one part of the Scripture is untrue, all may be untrue, and we have no firm ground to stand on.
If I am to take the Bible and say, “Some of this is true, and some of it is questionable,” I am no better off than if I had no Bible. A man who is at sea with a chart which is only accurate in certain places, is not much better off than if he had no chart at all. I do not see how it can ever be safe to be “converted and become as little children” if there is no infallible teacher for us to follow.”
On The Cross After Death No. 1956-33:193. A Sermon Delivered On Lord’ Day Morning, April 3, 1887, By C. H. Spurgeon, At The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.
Scripture to ponder:
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1cor. 15:12-20
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Lorna Couillard
