“The Bible and the Tape Measure”
“We will trust a tape measure, but not God’s Word”
Text: Psalms 119:9-11 (KJV) 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalms 119:105 (KJV) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
If I were to take this tape measure this morning and measure this pulpit . . . and I were to say that it was ___ inches wide would you believe me? Why? What gives this Power Pro Craft Serial # TM1210N the ability to be right or even accurate? Have you ever taken a measurement with a tape measure, cut your board and then when the board didn’t fit say “That stupid tape measure . . . it gave me the wrong measurement again.” No that would seem to be absurd, yet there are people who will say that about God’s word. When we use a tape measure we don’t question its accuracy or validity. Then why do we question the accuracy or validity of God’s word? Let’s look at several startling realities.
I. Where was it made? (it’s maker or author)
Well, this little device says “Made in china for Commerce; CA 90040 U.S.A.” I could say something about that, but I think I will refrain today. This measuring tape was probably manufactured along with a thousand or so of its kind on a given day. It was probably designed by a computer program of some type or another. Therefore in many people’s minds it cannot be wrong. Can machines make mistakes? We have only to look at our currency to see one example. Have you ever seen a coin stamped with a head on both sides? Not just for a joke, but unintentionally. What about a coin that was stamped off-center? Those mistakes make those coins or bills very valuable. Why? Because they are rare, machines do not make mistakes, but when they do . . . . So what if for instance, my little tape measure was one of one thousand made that day that contained an error. Was each of those one thousand tape measures compared with a valid standard of measurement? What if instead of each inch being one inch it was one inch and 1/16th? Well, 1/16th that surely wouldn’t make a difference, would it? Well . . . maybe not if you were only measuring 1 inch, but what if you measured your side and came up with 50’ feet and I measured my side and came up with 53.125?” It would be a strange looking house when it was finished if every measurement I made was ½ to 3 inches shorter than the measurements anyone else made.
We don’t question the validity of a tape measure but we will question the reliability of God’s word.
2 Samuel 22:31 (KJV) As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
Psalms 12:6 (KJV) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Unlike machines whose chance of error is much smaller than man, God does not make mistakes. God is perfect and his word is tried and true.
2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Peter 1:21 (KJV) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
How then can we know that the Bible is not just a mistake?
1 Kings 8:56 (KJV) Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
Psalms 111:7 (KJV) The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
Matthew 5:18 (KJV) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
II. What tests has it passed?
Well this little device has the logo of Power Pro Craft TM which basically means, it has passed their requirements of a valid reliable tool. I say again has this little tool been tested against an unchangeable standard?
Tape Measure - Measuring instrument consisting of a narrow strip (cloth or metal) marked in inches or centimeters and used for measuring lengths.
In other words a tape measure should be able to accurately portray an inch, a foot or a yard. If this tape measure were to be compared to another, would there be any deviation? If so, then one of them is not valid or true.
Has it passed the test of time?
Without a year being posted on the measure there is no way of knowing exactly how old it is. I suppose it would be possible to look somewhere in a record of some kind and find the serial # and see its date of creation, but how long has that been? Five years? Ten Years? And yet we would still put such great trust in it. Trust that it is going to give the correct measurement so that our building does not fall down.
Yet there are some that would doubt putting trust in God’s word that has stood the test of thousands of years. There has not been any other book that has been so aggressively been opposed. Many have tried to stamp out God’s word and its influence. It has been like trying to stop out a fire that is burning in oil. Every time that you stomp it just jumps somewhere else.
God’s word is filled with predictions written hundreds of years before the actual events took place. The following is just a sample of some predictions that were made and fulfilled by Jesus.
Prediction OT reference NT reference
He would be born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:21
He will be of the seed of Abraham Genesis 12:1-3 & 22:18 Matthew 1:1 & Galatians 3:16
He will be of the tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10 Luke 3:23-33 & Hebrews 7:14
He will be of the House of David II Samuel 7:12 Matthew 1:1
His birthplace will be Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-7
He will be anointed by the Holy Spirit Isaiah 11:2 Matthew 3:16-17
He will be heralded by a messenger Isaiah 40:3 & Malachi 3:1 Matthew 3:1-2
He will have a ministry of miracles Isaiah 35:5-6 Matthew 9:35
He will cleanse the temple Malachi 3:1 Matthew 21:12
He will be rejected by his Jewish people Psalms 118:22 I Peter 2:7
He will die a humiliating death involving:
- Rejection by his own people Isaiah 53:3 John 1:10-11 & 7:5,48
- Silence before his accusers Isaiah 53:7 Matthew 27:12-19
- Being mocked Psalms 22:7-8 Matthew 27:31
- Piercing his hands and feet Psalms 22:16 Luke 23:33
- Being crucified with thieves Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38
- Praying for his persecutors Isaiah 53:12 Luke 23:34
- Piercing of his side Zechariah 12:10 John 19:34
- Buried in a rich man’s tomb Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60
- Casting lots for his garments Psalms 22:18 John 19:23-24
He will rise from the dead Psalms 2:7, 16:10 Acts 2:31, Mark 16:6
He will ascend to the heaven Psalms 68:18 Acts 1:9
He will sit at the right hand of God Psalms 110:1 Hebrews 1:3
We will put our trust in something that has only stood a test of five to ten years, but not something withstanding several thousand?
III. What does it require?
We come to the last point that is quite interesting. When compared with the Bible this tape measure has proven to be far less trustworthy for a number of reasons. But in spite of this fact we will allow the restrictions that this tape measure implies to govern our lives. What, you may say? How does this tape measure govern my life? Have you ever gone fishing? There are rules that you must follow, you may only keep this type of fish if it reaches this length. What about when you go to buy some new clothes? That tape measure has some restrictions about what you can buy and what you can’t. Perhaps you are laying new carpet in your home. If your room is 13 feet wide and the carpet is 12 feet wide, no effort of trying to find another tape measure is going to solve your problem.
But there are some people who refuse to become a Christian because they say it has too many rules and regulations. Yes it is true that there are some things that you must follow if you are to be a Christian, but I challenge you to find anything in life that doesn’t have some type of guidelines that you must follow.
The Bible commands that we must be born again
It says Be ye holy for I am Holy
Love your neighbor as yourself
The Ten Commandments
The Bible does contain some rules, but when you realize what being a Christian is all about, the rules become second nature. When you have a meaningful relationship with someone such as a Husband, Wife, Mother, Father . . . do you find yourself saying “Oh man! I can’t do that because I’m her husband (his wife . . . mother . . . father). I trust that there wouldn’t be someone who would feel that way. Why? It’s because when we love someone we desire to please them and to help them in whatever way we can. When we are in a loving relationship with God, we desire to do the things that please him and they do not seem like burdens we must bear.
Where was it made?
What tests has it passed?
What does it require?
