AN OPENED BIBLE

By FEH

Returning by train from London one evening accompanied by a fellow – Christian, we took our seats in a coach. In the opposite seats were two young men, one of whom took a Bible from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of him. He then commenced to read an evangelical paper.

After some minutes had elapsed, and the train had started on its journey, he looked over the top of his paper and his eyes met mine. I looked at the Bible and said to him, “Excuse me, sir, but do you know of a better kind of Bible than the one on this table?” “A better one?” he replied, to which I answered, “Yes, a better one,” “Do you mean a better translation?” he then enquired. “No,” I replied, “just a better Bible.” Looking at me searchingly he said, “I am afraid I do not understand you,” and then added, “If you know of a better Bible perhaps you will tell me what it is.” “Yes,” I replied, “the Bible the Ethiopian eunuch had in the desert is the kind I refer to; it was an opened Bible (Acts 8); the one on the table is closed.” Immediately a bright smile came over his face, and we were very soon conversing together upon the value of an opened Bible, a conversation in which my Christian friend happily joined. It was apparent that all three of us had found Him of whom the Bible speaks – the Lord Jesus Christ – and that He was our Saviour.

What a wonderful possession – an opened Bible! There are many homes in this greatly favoured land in which Bibles are to be found, but alas, how many are rarely, if ever, opened!

Do you, my friend, know the value of an opened Bible? It contains the precious unfolding of God’s thought regarding His own beloved Son, and the greatness of His love toward us, which has been expressed in the Lord Jesus. Paul could speak of Timothy that “from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” What value lies in this precious book, even for a child!

The Lord Jesus Himself could speak to two on a journey, of the scriptures, showing in them those blessed “things concerning Himself.” What a sweet story is unfolded for us! His precious life, His holy words, His love taking Him into death, the death of Calvary, His marvelous rising again in resurrection, His ascension to glory, and His coming again to take everyone who loves Him to be with Him for ever!

The fourth person at the table, a young man, was unknown to us all. After some time I turned to him and said, “I hope our conversation does not weary you.” “On the contrary,” he at once replied, “I am deeply interested. It is obvious to me that you gentlemen have something I have not.” He had tried, as he said, “various religions,” including some of the modern phases, but was unsatisfied.

“Tell me,” he said with real earnestness, “how can I be saved?” and then added, “please be quick, I get out at Barnet.” The train was already slackening pace, and we had no time to say much to him. The One who is the grand theme of the Bible was the only One to whom we could direct him. As he rose from his seat I repeated Paul’s words to one in urgent need and who sought for light, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

Dear reader, what of you? The scriptures give us the speaking of God. He speaks with authority, and we cannot afford to treat what He says with indifference. If we look into the scriptures we find, too, that God speaks with the utmost tenderness and love, speaking of the preciousness of Jesus and the value of His blood, bringing to us the greatness of that “salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”