The Word Is Our FoundationUzorak

The Bible: Explaining Reality

The word ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek word "Biblia," which is plural and means "little books" or "booklets". Therefore, the Bible can be viewed as a "library" because it comprises a collection of books. Our Bible comprises 66 books written by at least 35 authors across roughly a 1000-year period. 39 of these books predate Jesus and are known as the Old Testament. The other 27 books were all written after Jesus’ ministry and are known as the New Testament.

While there are all kinds of books in the Bible, every single one of them was written to explain some aspect of reality. It’s good to remember that some bits of the Bible make more sense than others (after all, this is the most ancient literature you’ll probably ever read), but every bit of the Bible tells the story of a God who created us and invites us into a relationship.

To be human is to be made by God to live in reality created by God himself. God’s design gives us dignity and purpose. This is reality - no matter how we feel, no matter what messages we have listened to over the years. When God starts speaking, he first wants us to know that He is our Creator and that what he made is good. We have value and purpose.

What we believe about God and this life (and even about ourselves) is important. Our understanding of reality shapes everything we say and do because what we believe automatically frames our hopes and fears. When we read God’s Word, we get His take on reality, which brings ‘light’ into our lives. Instead of stumbling around trying to figure out why we’re here and the meaning of life, we are given God’s revelation of reality through every page of Scripture. In fact, Jesus goes so far as to explain that the only way to truly future-proof our lives is to build our lives on his teaching.

Building a Life on God’s Word

When Jesus was launching his ministry, he gathered his disciples together and outlined the core ideas that he wanted them to understand. He finished his whole talk by describing life using a construction analogy. Jesus said that you and I are all builders, constructing our lives on one of two foundations.

Smart builders will always look for solid ground to build on, whereas foolish builders just build in the most convenient location and don’t care if the ground is just sand. Of course, no one would actually build their house on sand; that's the point. Because we all know that the first storm would be a disaster.

Jesus’ challenge to us is very direct. What am I building my life on? Jesus said that if we build our lives on his teaching and make God’s Word our foundation, our lives will be solid and unshakeable. It’s a huge promise and a challenge. “Don’t just listen to my words – build your life in a new way, on a reliable foundation.”

The construction analogy is helpful because it reminds us that the life of faith is a major construction project, where we need to keep making sure that our foundations are solid. It’s about reading God’s Word daily to make sure that our thinking is aligned with His reality, not this world’s - making time to truly listen to what God is saying to me personally, letting His truths illuminate my heart and mind, and looking for opportunities to put it into practice. The promise of God is that if we keep His Word close to our hearts and let it shape our lives, then our experience of His power and presence will continue to grow.

Reflection Questions:

1. What’s the best way for me to find a consistent time to let the Bible shape my reality?
2. What kind of expectation do I bring when I spend time with God in His Word?
3. How much could I say that my Bible reading changes how I live my life?