JAN 3

John 5:39
Memorise John 5:39
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”

I read in today’s newspaper that there are several compulsive gamblers who seek help for their addiction by attending self-help groups; but sadly when emerging from these group meetings, all they gain is the comfort knowing they are not alone in their struggles!

The Bible is the solution to all of life’s problems. Without the Bible, we only have the general revelation of God through His creation: we know God exists through evidence of intelligent design. With the Bible, we have the special revelation of God; we can see that man’s problem is sin which must be punished, we can understand the nature of God, and we can realise God’s plan for man’s redemption from sin. Most importantly, the Bible tells us of the Lord Jesus Christ, and how we must believe in Him by faith in order to be saved. In John 5:39 the Lord Jesus Christ clearly declares: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” The Bible is the word of everlasting life; without it, we can only look towards a hopeless end. Without the Bible, we cannot realise that every one of us is a sinner. Without the Bible, we do not realise that the punishment for such sin is eternal death in hell. Only the Bible reveals to us that the solution to this is Christ Jesus, for only He has died for us, the sinless for the sinner, and conquered sin and death on our behalf.

The Bible reveals to the gambler his love for money is sinful, and while he might temporarily turn away from gambling because he does not want to hurt his family, the lust within himself may eventually turn him back to gambling again. More importantly, the punishment for sin is not just the harm on the family, but eternal death in hellfire. The gambler must confess his sin before God, and confess Christ as His Lord and Saviour. With the Holy Spirit’s help, the gambler realizes through the Bible that Christ is now His master, not sin, and armed with God’s Word with much prayer and submission to Christ, he will be able to withstand temptation, and follow after righteousness.

Dear teen, do you realise how important the Bible is? It is the only way in which we can know of Christ, and attain eternal life. It is therefore imperative for every one of us to search the Scriptures, and to be very sure of our salvation.

Thought: Do I realise that the Bible is the solution to life’s greatest problem?
Prayer: May I look to the Bible always!