The B.I.B.L.E. Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

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In biblical times, you read about murders, anger issues, stealing, adultery, wars, love, devotion, flooding, diseases, and healing. We see those same things today. And the list goes on.

As an adult, I may have been gifted a Bible or two, therefore growing up Christian, I was always in arms reach of the Good Book. In my own efforts to know God and understand my walk, I invested in a study Bible some years ago.

Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus:

You need to choose carefully because you’re only allowed one plate. Do you pile food on top of food? Be considerate of others? Not appear to be a pig or greedy? Be strategic about studying our Bible. Don’t just read it. Make every effort to truly know and understand it. Remember, we need the basic instructions. Perhaps we need to see how versatile and resilient the gospel is, how much deeper and more powerful than the dos and don'ts this message is. Maybe we need to see that the gospel does more than the law could ever do. It goes further than the law could ever go. If the instructions come with glory, Paul says, "will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory" (v. 8). In 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul tells us that all the biblical promises "find their Yes in him." The book of Hebrews is a great sustained example of this truth, showing us how all that led up to Christ was preaching Christ from the shadows, as it were, even reminding us that the mighty acts of the great heroes of the Old Testament were not about themselves but about acting "by faith" in the promise of the Christ to come. Over the years I have learnt that the word Bible was turned into an acronym. The most common one I have heard meant ‘Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth’. I went ahead and did some more research and found at least ten other variations that pretty much meant the very same thing:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians chapter 5 verse 22 – 23). It is important to note that the reference is ‘fruit’ and not ‘fruits’, so though we can count nine attributes listed, as Christians, we should strive to have them all. As we look out at the world and into our churches, we think we know what will fix everything. We'll just tell them to get their act together. Thus all the instructions. True, we may not see words in the Bible like the internet, social media, or popular community causes and organizations. But we see many similarities like emotional feelings, directions on how to worship, lead your family, serving, praying, and so much more. If we have not one, we have not any. It is this fruit of the Holy Spirit that is living proof of our transformation and the substance in between the B.I.B.L.E that we should read and study each day.When I need hope, I have learned to go to the Bible first. Whenever I need a reminder of who provides everything I need, I go to the Bible, the Word of God. Feeling down or anxious? I go to the Bible. Need encouragement to go another day in a challenging climate? Again, I go to the Bible. The Bible is alive and active, as Scripture states above. You will find answers to many questions, and now more than ever, we need the truth to guide us through the weeks and months to come. Years ago, I was standing in a long line at church, waiting for my turn. It was the annual Christmas dinner. If you have ever been to a Christmas dinner at church and stood in line, you are quite familiar with the occasion.

As I have established, the Bible provides the basis and framework and the Holy Spirit the filling/body. What is our role in all of this?According to the Bible, only the gospel is the power for salvation (Rom. 1:16). We must stop treating the gospel as though it were power enough for a conversion experience but falls short of empowering all the practical matters of faith that come after. One night on the way home from small group, I listened to the guy on the local Christian radio station give a ten-minute presentation of what he had learned in church the previous day. It all boiled down to an appeal to make Jesus, in his words, our "role model." It was all very nice and inspirational. I am always intrigued by some of the conversations that take place as you move an inch at a time toward the food. You find yourself talking to people in front of you and behind you. Sometimes, random people will visit everyone standing in line. If the Bible is our Basic instructions before leaving earth, providing a framework/foundation for daily living, what serves as the filling/body of that basic framework/foundation? What will motivate people to real life change that begins with real heart change? Not all the helpful tips in the universe.

As I moved through the line, I couldn’t help but think about what he said. How true is that statement? After all, when I read the Bible, I find many instructions on how to live life. I also see lots of encouragement, advice, and warnings on how to live this life. What’s equally fascinating is it applicable to everyone. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans chapter 8 verse 26). Jesus himself said so. In Luke 24, we see two of Jesus's disciples walking on the road to Emmaus and discussing the report they'd gotten of Christ's resurrection. Suddenly Jesus himself sidles up next to them. He asks them what they're talking about. They don't recognize him at first, so they explain that they are discussing the matter of Jesus, expressing their confusion about his having been given up to be crucified when all along they thought he was the one sent to redeem Israel. And they also weren't sure what to make of this astounding claim about his resurrection. Then Jesus does something very interesting: "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27).

The good news of the gospel is so much better than the instructions! It is better because the news actually saves us. The gospel is the ministry of righteousness because it announces not just the blank slate of sins wiped out but the full credit of Christ's perfect obedience credited to us! The Power of Salvation In 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 Paul is recalling the giving of the tablets of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. As Moses would go up and commune with God, the glory of the Most High was so intense that it would continue to radiate off his face when he came down. The radiant glory was so intense that Moses covered his face with a veil to shield the children of israel from the intensity. But as stark and intense and awe-inspiring as that glory was, Paul says, it is eclipsed by the ministry of the Spirit, the ministry of righteousness, the ministry of the gospel of Jesus. I believe my first Bible was give to me for use in school by y parents. Living in Jamaica, a Bible was always on your booklist. It was a Good News Bible, and it had these cute figures as illustrations to help young minds understand the stories better. My second Bible was probably one from the Gideon Missionaries.