Have you ever thought about how privileged we are to have God’s Wonderful Word? How blessed to have a personal copy which we can see, handle, and read for ourselves. Have you ever stopped to think about all that has happened that we might have God’s word?
We are told the Word was given—“At sundry times,” or [as it says in the] margin “in many parts, and many ways,” (Hebrews 1:1,2).
Written in Different Ages—From the days of Job, and Moses down to the days of the Apostle John. From the early days of Israel’s history down past the days of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the scattering of her people to the four corners of the earth.
Written in Different Countries—Deserts of Arabia, under the shadows of the Pyramids of Egypt, in the cities of Greece, in Babylon, Rome, Jerusalem, country of Palestine, and the shores of the Aegean Sea.
Written in Many Different Places—In simple pastoral life under the open heavens, king’s palaces (David, Solomon, Daniel); in homes of rich and poor, on the shores of the sea, on a lonely island, in dungeons and prison cells, in the presence and sound of chains and soldiers.
Written by Different Types of Men—Shepherds, farmers, fishermen, warriors, kings, psalmists, prophets, tax-gatherers, doctors.
Written in Different Languages—Hebrew, Chaldean, Aramaic, Greek.
Written in Different Styles—Friendly letters, love songs, history, romance, proverbs, poetry, stories, carefully prepared treatises, epistles, and sermons.
Written Under Different Types of Inspiration—Absolute dictation, word for word, Divine superintendency in guarding from error. Guiding in selecting and arranging material and records. Divine inspiration in guiding the recording of things which had been seen, heard, and felt by natural means and faculties, and yet in each case, it could be said, “For the prophecy came not in old times by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21)
The Marvelous Unity of the Word of God—Although written under so many different ways and means, by such a variety of men, so many miles apart, yet each portion is God-breathed, and contains a power, and life, and a detectable something that is found in no other book or writing. The principles of God are always the same; man’s condition and need are always the same; the center is Christ, the scarlet cord of redemption is threaded throughout as the only way of man’s approach to God.
It Does Many Different Things—It convicts, saves, condemns, thunders, whispers, brings anguish and pain, soothes and heals, quits, disturbs, causes tears, gives joy, laughter, sorrow, sends to hell, raises to heaven, adapted for babes, children, young, old, ignorant, and wise.
It is Likened to Many Different Things—A mirror, hammer, sword, light, honey, milk, meat, bread, rain, and snow.
[Taken From End Times’ Messenger March 1961]
By Rev. Glen S. McLean, President of the Full Gospel Bible Institute, Pastor of the Eston Full Gospel Church, and Moderator of the Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada.