I Think That I’ll Write the Bible!
Imagine writing Scripture and not even knowing it! I have liked to write for some time now. Lately I have set some rigorous writing goals for myself. I love certain styles of writing; usually the more down to earth the better I like it. I love a lot of personal illustrations.
I can not imagine any human being writing like the apostle Paul wrote. Have you have ever read his little letter to Philemon? It makes me cry just about every time that I peruse it’s few words. He expresses himself as if he were inspired by God. Oh, right, he was!
Just now I find myself in 1 Corinthians. It is a fascinating read too. Paul wrote this letter to a struggling congregation. He wrote on difficult subjects. He wrote with gusto to communicate a very important message to a small group. And every word was exactly what God would have said. In fact God was his proofreader!
I wonder what it was like? I mean the man was writing the Bible. He was being used by the Holy Spirit to write part of the Holy Scriptures. Yet in the passage above he says, “…and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”
Do you understand what he was saying? He was not doubting his Salvation. He was not doubting that the Holy Spirit lived in his body. Just a few verses prior he had told the Corinthians, “You have GOT to be kidding! You mean to tell me that you didn’t KNOW that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit?” That quote, by the way, was definitely NOT Scripture in case you didn’t notice.
In the above context Paul was saying, “I have just given you my opinion. But I think that the Holy Spirit would have said the very same thing.” And guess what? He was right! How do I know? Because what he put on parchment is now a part of the Bible.
These days we have some pretty sharp writers. A quick look at any number of blogs will impress the sock off you. Some of these writers are even Christian writers. The interesting aspect of modern-day writers vs Paul’s writings is that no matter how creative one might try to be they will never write Holy Scripture. The Bible is a finished work. It can’t be added to nor subtracted from.
Oh it can be butchered and badly preached. It can be cited to support the strangest of doctrines. But the Bible is THE book. It has no comparison.
Paul wrote no less than thirteen books of this Treasure: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. Some even think that he might be the mystery author of Hebrews. I don’t. But whatever. Paul wrote a lot.
Where am I going with this thought? God has used few men like he use Paul or any other Bible text author. This does not preclude the possibility that He can use a normal guy like me. He can and does. Thinking about that possibility, that God can and will use me, should mold most if not all of my projects, plans or relationships. I’m not to fret about what I can’t do but to dream and do what God can use me to do.
So! Go write a book. It might be a best seller. However, don’t leave God out of it or He might just leave you out of His!
