A Written Guarantee
 
“It ain’t worth the paper its written on!” How many times have you heard that? We like to think that if it’s written down, we can depend on it. The only way that happens is if we are dealing with honorable people. Even then, there’s no guarantee when it’s dependent upon someone else’s interpretation.
Still, there are just some things that we trust, don’t we?
Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Paul says in Galatians 1:12, "I did not receive [my gospel] from man nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ." If we take Paul as our model for what it meant to be an apostle of Christ, then it would be fair to say that the New Testament as well as the Old is not merely from man but from God. The writers of the Old Testament and New Testament spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
There’s the story of Chief Lean Bear and other Plains Indian leaders attending a meeting with representatives of the White House on March 26, 1863. Lean Bear spoke for peace that day. About a year after his visit to Washington, he was shot while holding a peace medal and papers given to him by President Lincoln as he attempted to greet the soldiers as they approached. But when the commanding officer gave the order to fire, Lean Bear had no warning. By the way, Lincoln wasn’t there that day.
Sure, there was an agreement made between Lean Bear and President Lincoln. Speaking of the soldiers there that day, the president even admitted that “sometimes the children do not do what the father says.” That is a problem that still exists today. It gives credence to “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Past and present behavior is the greatest predictor of future behavior without there is overwhelming change. With that change, there’ll always be pain.
Lean Bear understood the president’s remark as he had children of his own but placed his trust in a medal and a promise that as it turned out wasn’t worth the paper that it was written on because that promise had no authority.
What am I trying to tell you? The only symbol of peace that will sustain us and every word is true and infallible is the Word of God. The Bible provides everything we need to know the difference between truly selfless, spiritual deeds, and acts which are actually selfish and ungodly. It has authority because its author is sovereign.
Accepting Jesus is the only transaction we’ll enter into that comes with an eternal lifetime guarantee.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
God’s Holy Word. It’s the ONLY thing that is worth the paper it’s written on.
But it is no good if you will not read it.
-Pastor Butch