Story Of The Text12
Sir Walter Scott, upon his deathbed, asked his attendant to bring him "the book." When asked, "What book?" he replied, "The Book, the Bible! There is only one Book." This, from a man of letters, poses the question: If the Bible is "the only Book" by which to die, is it not truly the one Book by which to live?
My mother taught me respect for God's book, long before I knew much of its content, or critical details. Early teachers, such as N.B. Hardeman and L.L. Brigance, enriched that respect with analytical information, organized and interrelated. The challenges of skeptics in a state university forced me to examine evidences for its canonicity, integrity and credibility; and hunger for the purest truth led me to long hours of study in Greek, the language of the text. BUT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF GOD'S WORD IN MY LIFE have taught me its greatest lessons, and its value.
We close this series on the text with this anonymous eulogy of the Bible, kept in our notes since 1934. ----------------------
"Many years ago I entered the wonderful temple of God's revelation. I entered the portico of Genesis, and walked down through the Old Testament Art Gallery where the pictures of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David and Daniel hung on the wall.
I entered the Music Room of the Psalms where the Spirit swept the keyboard of inspiration and brought forth the dirge-like wail of the weeping prophet, Jeremiah; to the grand, impassioned strains of Isaiah; until it seemed that every reed and harp in God's organ of nature responded to the tuneful touch of David, the sweet singer of Israel. I entered the chapel of Ecclesiastes where the voice of the Preacher was heard; and passed into the conservatory of Sharon where the lily of the valley's sweet-scented spices filled and perfumed my life. I entered the business room of the Proverbs, and passed into the observatory room of the Prophets where I saw many telescopes of various sizes, some pointing to far off events, but all concentrated upon the Bright Morning Star, which was soon to rise over the moon-lit hills of Judea, for our salvation.
I entered the audience room of the King of Kings and was enlightened from the standpoint of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; entered the Acts of the Apostles where the Holy Spirit was doing His office work in the forming of the church; passed into the Correspondence Room where sat Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John penning their epistles. I stepped into the Throne of Revelation, where all towered into glittering peaks. I got a vision of the King seated upon His throne in all His glory, and I cried:
"All Hail the power of Jesus' Name
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of All."
Truly, THERE IS ONLY ONE BOOK!!