October 2005
Is the Bible relevant for today?
A new "100 minute" Bible was released a couple of weeks ago, aimed at those people who "do not have the time to read the full version". The Bible has been the best selling book throughout the world for many years and people of many races have been able to read it in their own language.
Sadly, there does not seem to be the thirst for it in our Country like there is in other places. People do seem too busy to set aside time to learn what God, the Creator, would want to say to us. Although it was written by many different people a long time ago, yet "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit". Anyone reading their Bible carefully will be in no doubt as to how up to date it is in showing what the fabric of society is like and revealing the heart of mankind. However, it also warns us about the future, as we were thinking in our August issue (click here to read).
When Solomon wrote in the Old Testament he said, "Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him". We need to read what God has said to us through the Bible in order to understand what has happened in the past, (sin, suffering and a Saviour) what should happen now, (believe on the Lord Jesus Christ) and what will happen in the future ("Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation").
The Bible is so relevant that if you fail to understand its message today you may find that you are eternally lost tomorrow.
The Story of Zacchaeus
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! The Lord Jesus was passing through the City where he was living. (Little did he realise that the Lord Jesus would never visit Jericho again.) Despite the difficulties of getting to the Lord Jesus and the concerns of what people around Zacchaeus thought of him, he was determined to see the Saviour. His lack of height, for he was a short man, would not prevent him. Neither would the fact that there were many other people wanting to see the Lord Jesus.
Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycomore tree to see Him as He passed by. Imagine the surprise of this little man as the Lord Jesus stopped right underneath the tree and calling to him by name asked him to come down from the tree. You see, in the eyes of Jesus, Zacchaeus was an individual who needed a Saviour. He spoke to him as though no-one else was there. He would speak directly to him and demand and individual response. Would Zacchaeus remain in the tree and miss the last opportunity he would ever have to meet the Saviour? Of course not! He would be down in not time to go with the Lord Jesus.
Sadly there are many individuals happy to remain where they are and never meet the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, choosing to meet Him one day as judge when it will be too late to be saved.
We read that the Lord Jesus gave three instructions to Zacchaeus:
He was to "make haste". It would have been no good for Zacchaeus to remain up the tree. An immediate response was necessary. Many people today are wanting to wait and put off the decision to follow the Saviour. The Bible says "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of Salvation".
The next instruction was to "come down". Many people find it so hard to come to the Saviour because of personal pride. We do not like to think we have to rely on someone else. However Zacchaeus needed to come down and meet the Saviour.
Finally the Lord Jesus said He was to "abide" at Zacchaeus' house. We read that Zacchaeus "received Him gladly". If you have read the story of Zacchaeus and recognise that you need to be saved from your sin, why not make haste and meet the Saviour today, by faith?
"For the Son of Man is come to Seek and to Save that which was lost"
Luke 19:10
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