That Grand Old Book
Thy Written Word is here to believe,
It speaks for Thee Lord, why won’t they hear?
When there’s a question, just take a look.
It’s all in writing, found in the book.
Jesus the person, Jesus the Word
Are alienated by finite man,
Christ bore it all, our punishment took.
It’s all in writing, found in the book.
Jesus says nothing but thru’ the Word.
“Tangible” truth’s the pattern today.
Angels can’t change it, they too must look.
It’s all in writing, found in the book.
That grand Holy book,
every page turn and look.
The same every day.
Until you change it Lord,
It’s the Way.
The above poem (song) was written by my wife’s father, O.D. Wilson around 1982 and can be sung to the tune “When I see the blood”, the last verse being sung as the chorus. He’s passed on now, but his words live on and still resonate in our minds. The idea of “tangible truth” is popular today as the modern idea is to “customize” truth to fit one’s personal situation. This won’t work as everyone’s situation is not the same.
Many today look for “truth” in many places and in various ways. In so doing, man has come up with ideas such as “relativism”. This means they change truth “relative” to their specific circumstances. This is a convenient way to “skirt” for one to get around truth when it convicts them. Upon looking up the word “truth” in the dictionary, you will find the following definitions: 1) the quality or state of being true. 2) that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality. 3) a fact or belief that is accepted as true.
The first two definitions are good ones. The final one is unacceptable as much which is “believed” to be true is not. Take religion for instance. If you were to ask religious people if their doctrine is true, most would say it is. The question then becomes: “Is your doctrine in accordance to the Word of God, or is it “man’s tradition”?” Ah, this is where debates come from. We are told in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” We can also read in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Since the Lord is always the same and “unchanging”, and He is the Word, does it not stand to reason that the Word also does not and has not changed?
The prophet, sent to Israel in Ezekiel 2:7 was directed what to speak to the defiant people of God in the O.T. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. Ezekiel was told in the verse prior, not to be afraid of the people, nor of their words. This also has application in the N.T. as the Spirit had the apostle Paul instruct the young evangelist in 2Timothy 4:2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Then in verses 3-4, The Spirit had Paul tell young man Timothy why the “Grand Old Book” was to be declared in the ears of all who will listen. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
When man deviates from the Bible (that Grand Old Book) which has not and will not change, then problems await. All Bible students are familiar with Jesus’ proclamation of John 8:32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Can we possibly be so blind as to think that “our version” of truth will make us free? The Lord was speaking of becoming free from sin by doing as instructed in the unchanging Word of God. Is there any way to have hope if we don’t know, or refuse to follow the Word?
Our eternal destiny is directly tied to following the Word of God and the instruction found therein. If we study and “rightly divide” the Word, as we are told in 2Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth., and do as we are directed, our names will be written in the “book of life” per Revelation 20:12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Follow that “Grand Old Book” and obey the gospel today, and have your name written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
