A Scientific Way of Discovering Biblical Truth (Part 3)
This is the third installment of my article entitled âA Scientific Way of Discovering Biblical Truthâ
One does not have to be a special someone in society to be instrumental in preaching the true Gospel of Christ. The very first called Apostles were illiterate fishermen.
(Acts 4:13) "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
Those who are called for Godâs special purpose are mostly ânobodiesâ in society.
(I Corinthians 1:26-29) "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. "
This is Godâs way in expressing and making known His power. The unimportant and the poor nation of Israel were chosen to be Godâs people.
(Deuteronomy 7:6-7) "For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:"
They were then the only people of God on earth.
(II Kings 5:15) "And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant."
(Romans 9:4-5) "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen."
Jesus Christ, the greatest person who ever lived on earth, came from these oppressed people of God. John the Baptist, a great prophet, was a poor uneducated man.
(Matthew 3:4) "And the same John had his raiment of camelâs hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey."
This is consistently the pattern of Godâs salvation wherein He uses the lowly to do great tasks.
(Ecclesiastes 9:14-15) "There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man."
Paul, an educated Apostle, confessed of his infirmity, thus, leaving him no chance of glorifying himself.
(II Corinthians 12:6-9) "For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Brother Eli: The person and the work
I have nothing to boast of nor to glory about myself. I am definitely nobody. Whatever infirmities or defects I have in my person are known to my peers. As I have said before, I am not perfectly witty, but I am perfectly me.
I am not ashamed about my person to anyone because I know that this is the way my Creator wants me to be: in height; the color of my skin (now, with blemishes); my eyes (although quite protruding); my voice (which I know is not quite inviting to the ears â but I love singing); and the entire person I am. To sum it all up, I am not of a very pleasing personality; but I want to tell everybody that it is not my goal to please everybody, but my God. Of course, conscientiously, I want to please people â as it is convenient to live without enemies. But I know, of certainty, the path that I am presently treading is one where I will meet and make more enemies than friends.
Can I be used by God as a preacher of the true Gospel? Let us consult the Holy Scriptures. The only quality needed for somebody to be used by God as an Instrument of His righteousness is to be clean or pure.
(II Timothy 2:19-21) "Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, âThe Lord knows those who are His,â and, âEveryone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.â Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."
I believe it is the Master that prepares a vessel for a good work. It is not within manâs ability to clean and prepare himself for a good work or purpose.
(Jeremiah 10:23) "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
Doing good is an obligation of anyone who knows how to do it.
(James 4:17) "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
My fear of the Lord, and the fear to sin consistently, are the factors that drive me to speak the Gospel â to preach it.
When I first got hold of a Bible, there was, inside me, a power that made me feel the urge to read⌠and read more⌠and more⌠and more.
As I read, verses were imprinted in my mind one after the other, verses that aroused my consciousness about every problem and questions in life. What is life for? Why does it end? Who gives it? And what will be the afterlife?
These questions were all answered until the time that I could not anymore contain them within me, but I wanted to share them with others, as somebody who had found a great wealth willing to share and alleviate the sufferings of the poor.
The knowledge that I have accumulated in reading the word of God obliges me to speak and share the truth that I have known. My faith gives me the strength to speak.
(II Corinthians 4:13) "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;"
I know that the mouth of a human person can be used to tell the truth about God.
(Romans 10:10) "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I have a mouth and there is faith in my heart; these compel me to break my silence. I believe people should be warned. They have to hear the Good News; it is not only their right, but my obligation."
(I Corinthians 9:16) "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
I have an open mind and heart. If there is anybody in this dispensation who knows better than what I have known, I am willing to be subjected to him and help him labor for the glory of the God of Israel.
I am old and tired. I have labored for years; but I believe what I have done, is not even an inch of the many miles of work that lies ahead. I do not know when I will rest, but before I finally close my lips in silence, God-willing, until that time, I want to speak the truth â and nothing but the truth. So help me God. Until then, I am nobody.
(Luke 17:10) "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
To this, I say, AMEN!
EFS
Date Updated:Â June 8, 2011