Getting Personal With Christianity 12 - The Bible Saved My Heart
The Holy Bible "did not begin in uncertain origin or with uncertain authority, but was given to man from the beginning as an essential tool to prepare him for salvation!" [1]
By doing a search on the web, anyone can get information about the origins of the Holy Bible from a scholarly perspective. Scholarly does not suggest that the information is not inspiring, but among the faithful scholars are those who view it purely from an academic point of view. It offers a unique view of how the people of the past among the Ancient Hebrews viewed God and the world. The stories are interesting--inspiring Western literature since the Roman Empire adopted Christianity as the driving force to hold on to its political power.
The Bible has its origin in Judaism. No one can pinpoint when this faith began, but most people of faith will agree that religion started with Adam and Eve. As people spread through the world, they changed what tenets of Adam's faith on which to focus creating a diversity of faiths.
To the world, the Bible may appear full of wonder and fascinating tales, and it is! More than great stories, the Bible offers a real and powerful testimony of God and the divinity of Jesus Christ as His son. On a personal level, it has the power to heal the wounded heart by the words written therein which inspire hope and faith.
Heart of the Matter
One year following the death of my daughter, Zipporah, came the grief crashing down upon me, bricks, stones, anvils, and mountains, as I saw a picture of her. Crying out to God in prayer for comfort, I could find none at that time.
I cried out again, and the Holy Spirit directed me to a KJV of the Holy Bible on the floor next to me. Prompted again by the Holy Spirit, I turned specifically to the book of Jeremiah Chapter 10 [2] and began to read, stopping only after the last verse of that chapter. The words spoke peace to my heart and mind. Grief melted away as my sorrow-hardened heart became flesh again--Peace, again.
What I Learned in Jeremiah 10
The God that I worship is real. God wanted me to remember that He is in charge, though my grief was poignant, He is real and my daughter is waiting in heaven in His care because He loves her and has received her into His bosom.
God is Real.
Billions of witnesses of many faiths believe in God. Many books testify of a supreme intelligence of some sort. The Bible contains information on who that Intelligence is and how to approach Him through Christ.
Reassured Witness
Knowing the power in the words of the Scriptures, it made sense that comfort followed the words of the prophet Jeremiah. What did not make sense is why.
Chapter 10 of Jeremiah is not about comforting the grieving soul and such. Counseling the people to stay away from other gods from the foreigners from within the nation and influences from without does not particularly say:
"Peace to your grieving soul!"
Other times since that mournful remembrance of Zipporah, I have read those words to determine how they helped me. The Spirit used the Bible to heal my heart, strengthening the witness within that the Bible is the inspired and holy word of God. I knew it before but my testimony of its divinity was reassured. It's like knowing Orlando, Florida is there because I have seen pictures and learned about it in school, then going to Disney World and visiting--a personal experience confirming the things I already know.
Do Not Worship Other Gods, He revealed.
Who was I worshiping? I worshiped my grief and self-pity. I put another God before Him. Those verses were not scolding since when asked in faith, as the ancient apostle of Jesus Christ James instructs, He does not upbraid. [3] God chastens with love that I should trust Him because of all the mighty miracles He has wrought in my life, and I do.
He placed a Christian grievance counselor in my path who escorted me safely through grief to sanity and health mending my broken heart. Conventional psychology helped with supernatural power to heal.
It is psychologically damaging to live life without principles and a code of belief. It is foolish to think that faith alone without works will save a soul. Faith without works is dead being alone, James instructs. [4]
God wants us to remember that we need Him. We can't go far in this world without His Guidance and His Help. By giving us hardships, it allows us to stop and think about our greatest need and that is for His love, His presence, and His salvation.
— Angela Michelle Schultz- Christian Reconciliation With People Who Have Hurt Us
Here are some steps for Christians to reconcile with people who harmed us.
The above quote and link contain simple truths from Angela's perspective:
God is real. God does heal. God does feel.
There will come times of sorrow and weakness that try the faith of all people. In spite of all that occurs in life, believe Jesus when He says that His atonement can take the pain away. We are all human with frailty. There is no end-all solution to grief. The Good News is that if any faithful person slips into the abyss of grief for any reason that Christ, through His Holy Spirit, can rescue his or her heart.
The Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
— Moroni, Prophet found in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Ether 12:26-27
How the Bible Came to Be: Gifts of Sacrifice and Love [1] "We learn through revelation that after man’s creation, he was not left ignorant of his origins." From the beginning, humanity was given a knowledge of writing and thereafter recorded the origins of humankind and all things that happened since the start.
Jeremiah Chapter 10 [2]
James 1:5 [3]
James 2:17 [4]
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2018 Rodric Anthony Johnson
