Let's Start at the Beginning

The Bible contains some very old writings. I don't remember everything I learned in my World History and Western Civilization classes, but the Bible contains some of our earliest historical documents. Sure, there is stuff that is older, but that doesn't mean the Bible isn't really old. And for quite a bit of what is written in the Bible, there are other historical documents that can verify the historical truth of the Bible. I believe that the Bible is a true story of this world's history, starting with the creation of the earth, the life on it, and continuing up through roughly the first century A.D. The Bible follows the history of a people known as the Israelites (Jews), who God chose to be His people.

Adam and Eve and the Fall

'By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.' Genesis 2:2-3.

Genesis 2 tells how Eve came into being. God saw that it wasn't good for man to be alone, so he made a companion for Adam. God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and took a part of his body (traditionally, a rib) and from it created woman.

Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden. They were to take care of the garden. The garden provided all the food they were to eat. God commanded them that they should eat of every seed-bearing plant and every fruit-bearing tree, except for one. They were not to eat of 'the tree of the knowledge of good and evil' and that if they did, they would die.

God did not want them to die. That is why He commanded that they not eat of the tree. However, God does not force us to follow Him. He does not want mindless followers with no choice. He created human beings with the power of choice. The tree represented that choice. God's command to Adam and Eve was for their own benefit, and He told them that disobeying His command would mean certain death. God's commands, when followed, will lead to total happiness and eternal life, just as Adam and Eve would have never died had they not eaten of the forbidden tree.

Needless to say, they did eat of the forbidden tree. Satan had already been thrown from heaven, and he knew that he was lost. He wanted to take this newly created world with him, so he lied to Eve, telling her she wouldn't die, and that the only reason God didn't want them to eat of the tree was because it would give them knowledge like God's. Eve believed the serpent (Satan). Eve fell for the same lie that all mankind has fallen for: that we know better than God. That we will be better off without Him. That we can make it on our own knowledge. Obviously, she was wrong, for by choosing her own way rather than God's way, she brought death unto herself. Adam, who was with Eve at the time, also ate of the fruit. By choosing death (which God had clearly told them about) Adam and Eve brought death into this world.

The World needed a Saviour

The life of the world was destroyed by a flood that covered the entire earth. After this, God told Noah to 'be fruitful, increase in number, and fill the earth.' This is exactly what he did.

The problem of sin, however, remained. People still thought they could do things on their own. They just didn't realize that it was only through the power of God that they could accomplish anything worthwhile. It was only by His grace that they could live. God wanted to show everyone that He alone could be their Saviour, redeeming them from an evil world.

The ultimate plan of Salvation was already formulated. God would send His only Son into this world as payment for all of the sins of the world. Through Christ's death and resurrection, anyone who believes that He is the Son of God and chooses to follow Him may have eternal life.

The Israelites

The history of the Israelites is nearly the same as it has been with any other people, however. When they loved God and obeyed Him out of love, they were blessed. But eventually many of them turned away from God, once again falling for Satan's ultimate deception--that we can do things ourselves, without God's help.

God had given the Israelites instructions regarding a sacrificial system whose sole purpose was to point to the ultimate sacrifice Jesus would eventually make for the world. Every sacrifice, every custom, every tradition the Israelites were to perform existed only to point to Jesus. (In fact, that is the whole purpose of the Bible--to point to Jesus). But the Jews were misled by the great Deceiver himself. Satan was able to turn the sacrificial system (something that should have reminded the people of the coming Saviour) into a ritualistic act by which the people thought they were saved. Indeed, Satan does this with everything God has ever said or given to us. Satan's goal is to have us believe that it is something that we do which will lead to eternal life, when in reality it is only by what God has done that we can know life.

Had the Jews truly understood the significance of their customs, they would have immediately recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah. Indeed, many of them did, but the religious leaders of the Jewish nation were full of pride. They would not accept that they might have been interpreting the scriptures incorrectly. Again, they fell for the ultimate lie--thinking that they knew better than God. They prided themselves in following the law (or what they thought it meant to follow the law), but they should have done away with pride, and truly followed the law as Jesus followed it, out of love for God.

The Saviour Arrives

The life of Christ is without a doubt the most important story in the entire Bible, and this is apparent from the sheer amount of scripture devoted to it. As John wrote, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25. I don't have time to detail the life of Jesus now, but the most important thing a person can do to understand His life and what being a Christian is all about is to read about it. Start with the book of Matthew. As you read, understand that what you are reading is not just some story. Jesus was a real person. Everything that you read really happened. As you read about the things he said and the things he did, you will find a love so great that it cannot be adequately expressed through words. You will want to be more like Jesus, and the more time you spend with Him, the more you will be transformed into His likeness. (As a side note here, I would like to recommend a book that really made the life of Christ real to me. It is entitled The Desire of Ages and was authored by Ellen White).

The life of Jesus was perfect in every way. He followed every command God had ever given, just as God intends for us to follow His commands, and as God had intended for the Israelites to follow His commands. Through His life, Jesus showed the world what it really means to love God. He gave us a perfect example of God's love for us. His life was a life of service. Everything He did, He did for others. Had He asked, He could have had riches thrown at His feet. He could have had an army under His command. But He didn't request anything but that we follow Him. He chose to serve, just as He wants us to serve Him out of our love for Him.

Christ In, Satan Out

The above is some of the most wonderful news ever to grace humanity! But keep this in mind: Satan wants back into your heart. He will try you. He will tempt you. He will make it his mission to make your life miserable. But as long as Jesus remains in your heart, Satan cannot control you! The only way Satan can gain a foothold and get back into your heart is if you first force Jesus out, and we can force Him out. Remember that we are created with the power of choice. We can choose whom we want to serve.

Now What?