The Bible Will Always Survive and Change Lives

The Bible Will Always Survive and Change Lives

BY RICK WARREN — SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

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“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”(Matthew 24:35 NIV)

The Bible is the most despised, derided, denied, disputed, dissected, and debated book in all of history. It has been under attack for centuries, for everything you can imagine.

Yet the Bible is still the most read, most published, and most translated book in the world. And, most importantly, it’s still changing the lives of those who apply what it teaches.

One of the reasons I believe the Bible is God’s Word is that it has survived so many attacks throughout history.

Despite all the attacks, today the Bible is the greatest single source of culture. It’s the greatest single source for music, art, and architecture. If you take the Bible out of culture, you would destroy most of the major music, artwork, and architecture of the past 2,000 years. Even much of our English language comes from the King James Bible.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (NIV). The only item on the planet that will last is the Word of God. Everything else will burn up, because truth is eternal.

Voltaire, the famous French philosopher, was a brilliant atheist. He wrote a number of tracts deriding the Bible. He once made a very bold statement: “One hundred years from today the Bible will be a forgotten book.” 

Today, everyone has forgotten that quote — not the Bible! After Voltaire died, for nearly 100 years, his homestead was used as the book depository for the French Bible Society. They sold Bibles out of his house! It’s now a museum. People have forgotten Voltaire. Nobody forgets the Bible.

No matter what attacks come the Bible’s way, it always survives — and it always will. You can depend on that.

Talk It Over

• How has the Bible affected your life? What difference has it made in your life?
• Does your perspective on life reflect the knowledge that this earth will one day pass away? How would your life change if you focused on the one thing that will never pass away?
• Ask God for the courage to stand up to those who oppose God’s Word with grace, gentleness, and wisdom.

The Time of God’s Favor is Here TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life...” (Joshua 4:14, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria What an amazing promise God gave to Joshua. He said, “Joshua, today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites.” He was saying, “Today, I’m going to start releasing more of My favor, My blessing, My increase.” But notice, there was a specific time in his life that God began to release favor in a new way. God wants to do the same thing for you. He wants to release His blessing and favor in such a way that it makes you great — a great parent, a great spouse, a great leader, a great employee, a great friend, a great business person. He is saying to us what He said to Joshua, “This day I’m going to begin to make your name great. This day I’m going to begin to release My favor in a new way. I’m going to open doors that no man can shut.” It is a set time of God’s favor. Get ready! Make room in your thinking. Stay open to Him and keep an attitude of faith and expectancy because the time of God’s favor is here! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, I bless You today. Thank You for pouring out Your favor and blessing on me. I open my heart and mind to receive every good thing You have in store for me today in Jesus’ name. Amen. PS... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwQhsL98qkg