By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
Several years ago, I opened my Facebook page and noticed something very strange about my profile. In the place where you can supply basic information about yourself and family somehow my information was tampered with.
My relationship was changed from “married” to “it’s complicated.” Well doggies! How did that happen?
Immediately I began to edit the mistakes but as fast as I was changing them someone else was putting in new incorrect data. My photo was even changed to a generic silhouette of a male then female. (Looking back, it was amusing. Sort of: she looked better than the original picture I had of myself) LOL!!
Friends started responding online and by phone and it didn’t take my “lightning fast” mind long to comprehend, “Someone has gotten a hold of my password!!!”
Hastily I was advised to change it to block the intruder which turned out to be a friend playing a joke on me. At one time I had used her computer to look up my account and had never logged off. We shared a good laugh.
Even though the false information wasn’t horrible, it was a reminder that I should check it more often or risk another case of mistaken identity.
In my column, I try to mention as often as possible how important it is for followers of the Lord Jesus Christ to read our Bibles on a daily basis or else risk a case of mistaken or stolen identity (If Satan can get you to doubt who you are in Christ Jesus or confuse your new identity with the old, then he will not be kind or merciful. He will eat your lunch and pop the bag!!!).
The following message was taken from one of my earlier columns and I need the reminder in this new year:
For years we had a priceless treasure gathering dust on our bookshelf. Most of the time we unwittingly ignored its value. The artifact got moved about if it were in the way or sometimes, I’d give it a quick cleaning and display it as the centerpiece on the coffee table when certain persons came to visit. It had a temporary home next to my bed if I went through a period of trials but as soon as the storm passed it eventually found its way back to a resting place in between the dictionary and a book of poems (Every now and then it even seemed to call to me, but I chose to ignore it for a very long time).
I am speaking of the Bible.
The one possession that has the power to change our lives.
Maybe that is why so many have sought to dilute it, discredit it, mock it and even try to destroy it, while countless others have devoted their entire lives to studying it, and teaching from it. And we will never know in this world exactly how many persons have lost their physical lives to preserve it for the last two thousand and eleven years. But this treasure is powerful and alive and breathing. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12” That is why it can never die, because it is the written word of God, and He can never die.
You see, I did not understand at first that it is a love letter. Years ago, I would open my Bible every now and then, read a few scriptures and developed a very narrow-minded opinion of who God is and what I thought He was saying to me. We must come into a relationship with Him through His Son to truly know who God is. (We are all as close to God as we choose to be.)
His word speaks of the truth. And the truth is named Jesus. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
No other book has had such an impact. Hemingway, Steinbeck, Twain or Shakespeare might have helped to shape someone’s life, but they could not offer life eternal. They could not bring us into a relationship with our “Father, Lord of heaven and earth.”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him (Jesus), and without Him (Jesus) nothing was made that was made. In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend (overcome) it.” John 1:1-5
“But you have not so learned Christ, if you have indeed heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph. 4:20-24
You see, according to this book, we are not just another “face” in the crowd when we have a relationship with Jesus. The Bible is our adoption papers, His will and testament for His children, all who will believe and receive Him.
God’s is love and His word will stand long after we are gone from this earth. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Rev. 22-7
HAPPY NEW YEAR and HAPPY NEW YOU!
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
