On a shelf in my study is a book entitled The Bible Made Easy written by Mark Water. It is a small pamphlet with the sub-title “An easy-to-understand pocket reference guide.” There are certainly quite a few helpful bits of information presented, and I was interested as I picked it up and surveyed some of the topics. In fact, I read through the entire book in about thirty minutes. It is true to say that it reminded me of things I had learned previously as well as presenting a few things that I had either forgotten or never learned. But when I finished, while I had some facts to toss around, the connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament, and the connections between God and humanity, were not the prominent theme or even overtly stated. It was, as I said, a book full of facts.

Since I reread that little book, it has been on my mind, its title stuck in my thoughts. It is indeed a catchy title, but whether true or not is questionable. In my years of study, trying to live a faithful life, and diligently trying to share the gospel with both Christians and non-Christians, I don’t think you can reasonably make the Bible easy. It is a complex work, filled with the stories of God’s people, with stories of how God has created and interacted with those people, and ultimately of how God plans to deal with His people. A person may spend an entire lifetime reading and studying the Bible, and yet every day they will still encounter something new. I always consider the Bible a living work. I have never found it to be outdated or irrelevant. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It speaks to me with both old and new instructions each day. It provides guidance for every day and every situation. It offers me compassion through its historic story and challenge through its living promise. I suppose I have come to the point where the Bible is not easy, but it is essential.

I often wonder why we so often think everything must be easy. Walking through the Barnes and Noble Bookstore the other day, I realized there is an idiot’s guide to almost all subjects. For math, English, philosophy, computers, and almost every other subject there is such a book. And yet, I don’t know that they help all that much. Years ago I bought one for my computer, or more accurately for the operating system that runs my computer. I didn’t like the idea of buying something that indicated it was for idiots, but if it made it more understandable, so be it. One learns quickly that these books are again books of facts that often can’t paint the whole picture because assumptions are made that you already know something. Without that assumed knowledge, things don’t make sense.

As you and I make valiant efforts to live this life that God has given us, perhaps the first thing we need to accept is that it can’t always be simple. There are difficult times that each person will experience. There are days of darkness as well as days of light. There are tough decisions that confront us that can’t be simplified. There are questions that remain unanswered for a lifetime. Yet there is a companion that travels with us. God has given to us His Holy Spirit to be our guide. He has also given us His holy Word to teach us. And He gave His son Jesus to save us. If you want to know more about all these gifts and God’s plans, spend some time reading your Bible. It may not be the easiest book you have ever read, but the more you read it, the easier it becomes to understand, and the more you understand, the easier your life becomes as you see God’s intimate involvement with you and all His people.

In these difficult times for the world and for the Church, I encourage you to read your Bible. In it, you will find God’s truth and purpose and challenge for those whom He has called to be His disciples and followers.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Butler +