Dealing With Doubt, Doubt, Trust, Words of Endurance

All Scripture is inspired by God
and is useful to teach us what is true
and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.
It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16 (NLT)



Whenever I am dealing with doubt, instinctively I immediately turn to the Bible. To me, it is the one tangible evidence of God’s existence that I can touch and experience. But I have not always had this complete confidence. During one season of doubting God, I began to doubt the authenticity of the Bible. So with my inquisitive mind, I began to do some research and I learned many invaluable facts about the Bible that would sustain me during future seasons of doubt.



I learned that the Bible has had a greater impact on human history than any other book. The desire for copies of the Bible inspired the invention of the printing press. Worldwide, billions of Bibles have been sold and the Bible continues to outsell every book ever published.



Yet the Bible is more than an influential bestseller; it is God’s Word. The Bible is God’s letter to the human race. As the Scripture claims, it originated with God, not with men. (2 Peter 1:20-21)



So given the vital importance of the Bible’s claims, how do we know we can trust its authenticity? How do we know it is actually from God? Consider the following facts:



Unity
The Bible was penned on three different continents, in three different languages, over a span of approximately 1500 years. Century after century, 40 different authors from diverse backgrounds wrote their portions of this book. And even more amazing is that after careful study; the 66 separate books of the Bible are in complete harmony and unity.

Scientific and Historical Accuracy
What I absolutely love is how the Bible is far ahead of scientific research. Centuries before scientists took note of it, the water cycle was described in the books of Ecclesiastes 1:7, Isaiah 55:10 and Job 36:27-28. ISAIAH 40:22 speaks of the “circle of the earth” even though for the next 1500 years most people still believed that the earth was flat. Scientists now agree that a catastrophic, worldwide flood, such as that described in Genesis 6, actually did occur. Archeological evidence agrees with the lives and recorded deeds of Bible characters.



Relevance
The moral directives and standards for living put forth in the Bible are as relevant today as they were when they were written. Unlike other works of literature, the Bible – Genesis to Revelation – addresses hundreds of controversial topics and does so with an amazing degree of harmony.



Preservation
Although many have tried, the Bible cannot be destroyed. Jesus affirmed this truth when He said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31). Portions of the Bible were written first on perishable materials that were copied and recopied for hundreds and even thousands of years. Even so, the Scriptures have never diminished in style or correctness, nor have they faced extinction. When compared to other ancient writings, The Bible has more manuscript evidence to support it than any ten pieces of ancient, classic literature combined.



Fulfilled Prophecy
The Bible stands alone as the only piece of literature that accurately predicts the future. The Old Testament, for example, contains more than 300 references to the coming Messiah that were precisely fulfilled by Jesus Christ. In addition, the Bible has many other prophecies that have been fulfilled and verified through archeological evidence.



Influence
Part of the beauty of Scripture is that is alive, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God (Hebrews 4:12). While some books can change a person’s thinking, the Bible is the only one that can change a person’s nature. Thus its life-changing power is one of the greatest proofs that the Bible is true.



When doubts about God begin to erode our faith – take heart and know that we can open the pages of His mighty miraculous Book and know that its words and the God who inspired them, are absolutely trustworthy.



For the word of God is alive and powerful.
It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword,
cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.
It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
HEBREWS 4:12 (NLT)



On the journey with you,
Jan Dravecky

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