Old Worn Out Bibles

This week I took off the shelf my old worn out New Testament that I read for so many years. I turned to the back page where I usually write in the inside corner the date and the place I got it. This particular New Testament and Psalms of a light blue color I purchased at a book store in Daytona Beach FL on March 12, 1995.

It was my faithful companion all those years in all my travels and at home. I read straight through it many, many times. And many times I would pick a book out of it and read it through. I read through the four gospels often, and periodically I would just pick it up and read a portion of Scripture.

It has some tape holding some pages together. Sections of it are very loose. And the notes I wrote in this New Testament fill the margins and spaces so much so that some scriptures are even difficult to read. And the dates noted in it are many and remind me of the times God would speak to me through His word. This is one wonderful and treasured New Testament and Psalms.

Some time ago I sort of put this good book into retirement. It has always remained within reach and I have read from it on occasion. But I have a big Bilingual Bible now that I use. And then like so many people do, I refer to my phone Bible at times. I do not think that is the same as holding the book in your hand and reading it and making notes in it.

I wonder how many believers have an old worn out Bible anymore.

I wonder how many read the Bible much anymore. I wonder how many believe the Bible much anymore.

Today you almost do not need to own a Bible. As I mentioned before we can access it on our phones, and even in Church the preacher has his Scripture readings put up on the screen as he reads them from his device. There is not much turning of the pages anymore. You do not need to know the books of the Bible anymore. It is no longer necessary to carry your Bible to church like it used to be.

Oh we can sing and dance and jump to the music for 45 minutes. But just let the preacher go beyond his allotted 22 minutes of preaching and watch the folks close their eyes and pretend to meditate. And hopefully he is really preaching the Word for that short time. We used to say: Sermonettes make Christianettes. I think we are in the age of the “ettes.”

I thank God for Preachers and Teachers who instilled in me “It’s the Word!” And I am grateful to the Lord for the desire for the Word. At sixteen the Lord first spoke to me directly from the Word and gave me an answer I so desperately needed. Since then I knew his Word would guide me, and I have depended on it to this day. I love to preach it too. Not sermonettes either. No book reports or movies to refer to to keep this “new generation” interested. Paul commanded us, Preach the Word. It was the charge given to me at ordination. It is what the Holy Spirit always opens up to me to share with the people.

I hope you too will someday have an old worn out Bible. -PJF-

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