The last few days I have been reading through our Vacation Bible School material and getting prepared for the next several weeks of planning. I’m looking forward to this year’s VBS for a number a reasons. One is because it will be our first at Phillips St. A second is because it will be Kenadie’s first year to be able to participate. She was born before our VBS last year at our previous work but was too young to go to class. However, a third reason I anticipate our VBS is because of the class material we are using. Lambert’s Publishing House has always been known for providing reliable and imaginative classroom material and this year is no different as we will be examining “Believe it or Not…It’s in the Bible.” Drawing from the famous Ripley’s Believe it or Not, there are five lessons examining out of the ordinary but true accounts from the Bible including Elijah calling fire down from Heaven, Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones, Balaam’s donkey speaking, and others. As I have been reading through this material, though, one thing has struck me repeatedly with each lesson – I do believe!!!
The skeptic can turn to any number of events that occurred within the Bible and mockingly chastise them as being impossible, but a believer just believes. What factors, though, contribute to a person being able to unyieldingly trust the Bible regardless of how “unbelievable” it may appear? The answers to that question can be varied depending on the one answering, but from my life I can see a few:
- Being reared in a believing home. I was fortunate enough to be born to two Christian parents who taught me the Bible was right. And while I, like everyone else, had to develop my own faith, I can attribute the foundation of my faith to that of my parents’. I simply have known nothing else in life and I thank God for it (Ephesians 6:4).
- Being taught by believing teachers. In addition to my parents, I have been fortunate in my life to be taught the Bible in a number of settings by those who, too, fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). These include Bible class teachers from my youth, preachers from whom I learned in gospel meetings, lectureships, and other special events, Bible instructors at whose feet I was trained, and elders who have taught me and helped me put what I have learned into a proper perspective. There simply is no substitute for learning at the feet of godly teachers (2 Timothy 2:2).
- Being married to a believing wife. Many homes exist with a great deal of inner spiritual turmoil. Even when both spouses are Christians they might come from different backgrounds and that can still cause friction. However, I am fortunate that I never have to “sell” my wife on the reliability of the Bible. And while we may disagree over some things in life (as all do) we never disagree on the fact that the Bible is right. While many men look only for favor and beauty in a wife, the wise man realizes the words of wise Solomon: “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).
- Being employed by a believing church. I have heard the horror stories from preachers (and even experienced them at times in my past) who preached certain truth-filled Bible topics or texts, but were discouraged by the fall out of unbelieving or skeptical members. Such can be extremely disheartening to one who is attempting to “declare…all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). However, I am thankful to know that from the pulpit I now stand that if it is Bible, I can preach it without shame or fear from my brethren. It is a great feeling to look down and see the faces of those genuinely interested in the truth and it provides the motivation to keep the interest alive in your own study and work.
Many more things could be mentioned, but these few will suffice in making the point. I am blessed. And even more I am thankful that I am in a position to help others realize not only the value, but also the validity of the Bible in our lives. But not just the themes “easily believe.” Being students of the Word, being Christians, demands that when we examine the Bible and read about things that are unnatural and “unbelievable” we rest in the calm assurance of our faith in an eternal and almighty God and simply admit: “I do believe!”
-Andy Brewer