Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

news, however, the Good News of God in Christ towardwhich the Old Covenant points, and of which the NewThe Word For TodayCovenant proclaims. This is the good news of the "comradeGod'' who has promised to be with us always.Dr. Ernest Gordon *No matter how hard the journey may be, He preparesa table for us even in the presence of our enemies. What isThe Bible is always relevant. It is as relevant today as it more, He prepares a way for us that is the way of eternal life.was for our forefathers of the early Church. Scientific andShortly after my release from prison camp, I was flownphilosophical works become dated and old-fashioned. What into Rangoon. One of my men met me in the hospital whereis it then about the Bible that makes it as important for the I had been taken. "Wait a minute." he said, "I'm going toman of the twentieth century as the man of the first?get something for you." He soon returned to hand me a newSimply this: that it tells of God's dealings with the Bible. "Here," he said, "I talked a chaplain out of this forchildren of His creation and redemption. God does not grow you. I knew you'd want it. We'll need it as much as we everold; neither do the things of the spirit that belong to Him. did in the jungle."God and man's dependence on Him never change from oneThe Book that was relevant for our captivity was alsogeneration to another. What is unique about man is that he relevant for our freedom: for it is the Message of life nowwas created for fellowship with his Creator. God comes and always.seeking fallen men.—Bible Society RecordIn my book THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE * Author of the book, ' 'Through the Valley of the Kawai.KWAI, I have told the story of how God reached down intothe condition of despair and degradation we were experiencingas prisoners of war of the Japanese in the jungle of HO W TO FIND TIME TO READ THE BIBLEThailand as we built a railroad through it to Burma. Thisrailroad was known as the Railroad of Death because everymile of it cost the lives of 64 prisoners of war and 240Southeast Asians. But it was also the Railroad of Life formany of us. God found us even in the shadows of death.One ex-prisoner told me that after he had experiencedthe grace of God he longed desperately for a Bible. There wasnone in his camp so he had to wait a long time until his wishwas realized. "This," he commented, "was the greatestdeprivation of all."In the camp where I was at Chungkai we were muchbetter off. A young Scottish soldier from Aberdeen hadorganized a lending library of Bibles. These he had inheritedfrom men who had died. Daily he hobbled along through thehuts giving out his Bibles for the sick men who were there insuch numbers. Whenever one group had finished their(reading, he would pick up his Bibles and go on to the nextgroup until he had covered the whole hospital area.Jock was desperately ill himself, but he kept going onwith his self-appointed task of "Word-bearer" until hisMaster summoned him home. He was a simple lad byworldly standards, but I am sure he received a king's(Welcome. For him the trumpets would blow with no uncertainsound.When I think of him I can still see him limping alongwith a rice-sack full of Bibles over his shoulder.."Here's the Word for today," I can hear him say ashe handed out the Bibles with a kindly smile.Jock was right. "Here's the Word for today."because it is God's Word.Many people allow themselves to be defeated by the'events of life in this confused age, because they never take• time to hear what God has to say. The bombastic utterances' of power mad dictators are given priority in our newspapersand too often in our lives. If the words of such men were theonly news, then we would have every reason to suffer fromfailure of nerve and the paralysis of the will. There is otherA great many people want to read the Bible. Theydelay taking definite steps to put a plan into operationwhich will result in regular Bible reading.It was Winston Churchill who said: "I really began toenjoy reading — and getting the best out of reading —when I learned to read entire paragraphs over and overagain. In every piece of writing there usually exists a gem,and when you, the reader, can read and reread that gemuntil it becomes a polished stone, it is then that you havereally learned to read."If a book doesn't stand this test of rereading, itprobably doesn't have much worth. The Book of books isever new.Here are 10 ideas for finding more time to read yourBible:1. Wake up 10 minutes earlier every morning andread.2. Put a Bible portion under your pillow at night toread before falling off to sleep; if you can't sleep, read.3. Talk less and you will have a few more minutes toread.4. Keep a copy handy in the kitchen or whendressing or at the telephone.5. Carry a New Testament in your pocket or bag.6. Take along your own copy when going to thedentist, lawyer, or elsewhere. Why read old magazines?7. Never go on a journey without a copy; you mightbe bored with your companions.8. Keep a copy in the glove compartment of yourcar in case of traffic jams, a wait for repairs, or whenchatting with passengers.9. Have a copy at hand when waiting for unpunctualpeople.10. Remember that a copy of the Bible in the handis worth two on a table or three in a bookcase!—Bible Society Recordf APRIL 21, 1971 15