Why Should I Care About The Bible?

WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THE BIBLE? 2 Peter 1:16-21

We live in amazing times, don’t we? Because of technology, we are able to see things that, in the past, we never would have been able to see. Because of satellites and wires and electricity, you can turn on your TV, and there in front of you is someone in Afghanistan, live, talking to you. You don’t have to use your imagination – you can see Afghanistan, thousands of miles away, right in your own living room. What a wonderful invention – the TV is a window through which you can see the world.

Maybe you don’t have time to go to the Olympics. Maybe you don’t have the money. That’s OK. Because you can turn on the TV, and there is the Olympics. You can watch the opening ceremonies, you can hear everything, as though you are right there. The TV is a window through which you can see the world.

The internet is the same way. I know longer have to wonder, “Where is Bonneville, Indiana?”. I can look it up on the internet. What’s a good recipe for chili? I’ll just look it up. What’s the weather like in Jerusalem? What’s it like to go white water rafting in Australia? I don’t have to wonder- I can just look it up, and all the information I want pops up on a screen. The internet is also a window through which you can see the world.

God has blessed us with an amazing amount of technology – TV’s and computers – windows through which we can see amazing things. Doesn’t all that technology make the Bible seem insignificant? Which one to spend time with - an old book that sometimes is hard to understand – or, a TV, a computer, through which I can see the world. Why should I care about the Bible? I already have everything I need at the press of a button. Why should I want an old book to be a part of my life?

The Bible is also a window through which you can see some amazing things. And when you open it up, you are able to see things that you can’t see anywhere else. The Apostle Peter describes to us what he say - something more impressive than the opening ceremonies at the Olympics, something more impressive than the Superbowl halftime show. Here in the Bible, through he Apostle Peter, we get a glimpse of the glory of God. In verse 16, Peter says, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” What you see when you look into the Bible aren’t just stories someone made up – they are eyewitness accounts. With their own eyes, Peter and the other disciples saw Jesus Christ – they listened to him teach. He was a man, just like them. And yet, he did things that revealed that he was more than just a man. He performed miracles.

One day, Jesus took them up on a mountain, and revealed his glory. He transfigured – in other words, he changed appearances from one to another. Our Gospel lesson describes how Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Moses and Elijah – two of the most important prophets in the Old Testament – appeared and talked with Jesus. Peter and the others, with their own eyes, were witnessing the glory of God - something more spectacular than anything you could ever see on TV. Peter says, “For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” Peter and the others heard the voice of God the Father, telling them that this Jesus was the Son of God, who pleased the Father with everything he was doing.

For a moment in time, Jesus reveals his glory. God the Father speaks from heaven. Here’s why the Bible is so important, so special. Through these eye witness accounts, we are given a window. And through this window, we can see Jesus Christ. We can see his glory. We can hear what God the Father says. There is nowhere else in the world where you can turn, and see the glory of Jesus Christ.

In the next verse, Peter tells us to pay attention to God’s Word. But that really is our problem, isn’t it? We don’t pay attention. God gives us this amazing gift, the Bible, and we really don’t care. “Ahh,” we say, “it’s just a bunch of made-up stories. There’s nothing in there that can really help me. There are things on TV that are more helpful to me. I’d rather look for stuff on the internet. The Bible is not really that helpful to me.” And so we push God’s Word away. We make excuses – lack of time, lack of energy – we don’t pay attention to this treasure that God has given to us, and we defend our sin with all kinds of excuses.