The Book of Books
Today, more than ever, men and women are concerned about job satisfaction. Finding fulfilment has become important. Yet the one book that tells us why we were made goes largely unread. The Book of Books written to tell us what life is about is seldom consulted. Is it any wonder that the world is in a mess?
Almost the first noticeable thing about the Bible is its size. Some modern literary masterpieces are long; most books are not. The Bible is large or, if small, is printed in a close type hard to read. This is because the Bible is actually a library of books. The title actually means "The Books". Sixty-six books have been bound into one volume because they make up a set. They depend on one another. Together they form a complete story. Individual books cannot be completely understood on their own. The title contains the word `Holy'. This means separate, put aside for special use.
The Bible is different from other books. There are several ways in which we may consider it different. First of all, we shall be struck with the transparent honesty of the writers. Their openness in writing of failure and sin, even their own, is most unusual. It is clear that they are hiding nothing; their language is direct and forceful.
Secondly, the standards they uphold are to be admired. They present ideas far outside those to which men normally aspire. They consistently condemn what is offensive to God and applaud what is right.
Thirdly, the Bible displays an amazing foreknowledge of future events. It predicts the future with an accuracy that would be alarming if we were to meet it anywhere else. All this is in keeping with the Bible's claim to be the word of God.
The Bible has only one author. God used many writers, but His message has a `wholeness' about it. It harmonizes. It fits together. The sixty-six books of the Bible are divided into two sections. The first is called `The Old Testament' covering thirty nine books, while the second section is called `The New Testament' covering twenty-seven books. The word `testament' means covenant or solemn undertaking. Each testament shows the way in which God's mercy was being shown to people.
The Old Testament is the record of God's mercy to the nation of Israel. It describes the covenants promises - God made to them. The New Testament is concerned with developing God's mercy to all. It is very important to read the Bible every day in order to know God, and to understand and do what He wants in order to please Him. What a blessing to read God's love letter "Just for me".
Bro John Kasanda with his grandchildren, January 2012
Bro John Kasanda (Kasumpa, Zambia)
