FROM THE PULPIT: THE BEST BOOK

George Washington was known, among other things, for his flawless character, his high degree of integrity and good manners. He received this trait from his upbringing, of course, but also in part from a little booklet he used to carry around. It was of 100 Rules of Morality (or a similar title; I ran across a copy once, lent it out, and haven't seen it since!)

Washington lived by the rules of life contained in this little book and had it pretty well memorized. The value of the book is seen in the type of man it produced in the Father of our Country.

As good as Washington's book of morality was, we have an even better, more valuable book at our disposal. It is the Bible. Washington's book of morals, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, as well as countless other devotional and self-help books, are all based on this one book. In it are found fail-safe rules of life, which will mold our character to a sterling quality, if we will but follow it.

But the Bible is more valuable even than that. The Bible offers us life itself. We think of eternal life as living for millions and billions and trillions of years, happily. Eternal life does not deal in time at all. It is not limited by time. There is no death, and only joy, peace, love all those wonderful things we long for and assume are ours only when we get to heaven.

We will be perfect then, but even now, we can receive an abundant supply of love, peace, joy, patience, and all other virtues as well. (see Galatians 5:16-23) We can share in God's own nature that is be more like Him. (see 2 Peter 1:3-8) And we can have assurance of knowing that we already possess eternal life. (1 John 5:13) All this the Bible gives us. But not if we don't read it. Not if we don't believe it and make it our own. Not if we don't put it into practice.

God's Word is powerful. It brings us life. But seed without soil and water and sun does not grow. The Word without an open and receptive heart will not produce either -- or rather, the soul who does not have God's Word in it!

We don't worship the book. We worship the God who gave us the book. But this book has the power to make us reborn as children of God. It is the seed of life God sows in our hearts. Read it. Accept it. Practice it. (Even memorize it!) And whatever else you may become, you will become a joyous child of Almighty God! Timothy 3:16-17, John 20:30-31, John 1:12)