The Wealth of John 3:16

        I was rummaging through some drawers at home when I was young, and found a Pocket Testament League New Testament that was given to my Father when he went into the Civilian Conservation Corp during the depression. I looked at the cover inside and out and saw his name written in it and read the few verses that were inside of the cover. That was it. I can't say I understood a word of it, but thought the size of the little testament was really something. It actually fit into your shirt pocket. During the fifth grade, I got my own copy from the Gideons at school. That was probably in the early 50's and it was much later in my life that I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. At that time, I probably only knew one thing and it was the truth of the following verse. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

        At salvation, that is about the only thing I really knew. Oh, I may have thought I knew a lot about the Bible but that didn't make it so. Things that I had thought about in the past began to be made clearer but it seemed like I was peeling an onion, one layer at a time. As time went on, people would ask me if I was a Calvinist or not. I am not sure I can still answer that question, but I know what John 3:16 says. I don't fully understand the minor prophets even though one professor instructed us to draw what we saw in the Book of Zechariah. When a preacher or teacher stands in the pulpit and says, “I think this means...” I am immediately turned off. If you don't know what it means, then don't preach it, or teach it until you do. So, what do you know about God's Word? Well, I know that God loves me because John 3:16 says so. I know that the Father sent the Son, because John 3:16 says so. I know that if I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, I will have eternal life because John 3:16 says so. We have begun to label people with such terms as “mainline denomination”, “Independent Baptist”, UMC, Missouri Synod, Calvinist, Arminian, Pre Trib, Amillennial, eternal security, sinless perfection and the list goes on and on. People stand up and try to teach something that they are not sure of themselves, but say, “I think this means...” If you know the truth of John 3:16, then preach it. If you know the answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved,” then preach it. When your neighbor or friend asks you about what makes your life different, then tell him or her your testimony of what God did for you and is doing in your life today. We all have a unique testimony to tell to others. Tell them the simple truth of John 3:16. I can't fully understand all the ramifications of Calvinism or how the rapture is going to take place or how big the dinosaurs were in the ark or how Moses parted the Red Sea or all of the visions in Zechariah or what Ezekiel saw but one thing I do know, I have eternal life because I have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as it says in John 3:16.

         I have twelve bookcases of books, none of which are fiction, but about the Bible, by great teachers and preachers through the ages but therer is no substitute for knowing God's Word. The most important single book in your library should be The Holy Bible. How well do you know that single Book? Praise God for the simplicity of the message of salvation and especially for John 3:16.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”