When asked if they believed that the Bible was the inspired and the infallible Word of God, a majority of sixteen- to twenty-nine-year-olds in America said, ‘Yes. Give it to me straight. And if you don’t live it, don’t give it!’ It’s an honest response! Think about it: who told the first lie ever recorded? Satan. In the garden of Eden, he convinced Eve it was okay to eat the forbidden fruit and that God didn’t really mean what He said. And he is still peddling the same old lie! You hear it in comments like these: 1) ‘You can interpret the Bible many different ways.’ That sounds reasonable until you read this: ‘Above all, you must realise that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God’ (2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT). Isaiah said, ‘People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.’ Two and two must make four; otherwise, we’re all open to each other’s interpretations and value judgements – and somebody is going to get the short end of the stick. 2) ‘It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.’ What if you’re sincerely wrong? If a doctor prescribes the wrong medication, it could kill you rather than cure you. 3) ‘Rather than offend someone, you should say nothing.’ If that person’s house were on fire, wouldn’t you warn them in order to save their life? Before He was betrayed, Jesus said, ‘All ye shall be offended because of me this night’ (Mark 14:27 KJV). The truth hurts, but it heals, so let’s be true to the Scriptures.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.