Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Augustine
God’s Love Letter
When atheists argue about the Bible and some Bible verses, I tell them that this wasn’t written to them. These “love letters” were written to His own children. God doesn’t send His letters to those who refuse to repent and trust in Christ. God wrote the greatest love letter ever written, and it was to His very own children who have trusted in the Son of God and received eternal life. To those who despise Christ and the Bible, I tell them, “You’re reading someone else’s mail!”
Putting Yourself in Scriptures
What I mean by putting yourself in Scriptures is to read the Bible as if it were written just for you, because it is (along with others)! For example, think of John 3:16 and then personalize it by reading it with your name in it because He had you in mind when He sent Jesus to die for you. John 3:16 could just as easily be read, “For God so loved the you, that he gave his only Son, that if you believe in him you should not perish but have eternal life.” God sent this letter (the Bible) just for you, and for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Not Our Home
We are not in our true home. We are only pilgrims passing through this life and headed toward the Promised Land (Revelation 22). The author of Hebrews wrote, “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14); and that is the City of God, the New Jerusalem, which will descend from heaven some great day (Rev 21:2). We are living for the kingdom, being citizens of heaven at present while yet living in the wilderness.
Conclusion
Augustine wrote, “The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.” So why not read them as if they are personally written from God, because they are. Put yourself in the Scripture as the personal pronoun. And remember, we’re not home yet; but we are headed that way. That is worth rejoicing over, isn’t it?
