There was a popular record in the early 1950s which poked fun at preachers and other church folks. The punch line was that of a preacher saying, "It's in the Book!"

That book is a one-of-a-kind book. It is extraordinary. It answers questions that few, if any books, will attempt to answer. The unique things that are in the book should cause even the casual reader to respect it and to examine its contents further to find its many other treasures and mysteries revealed therein. Let us examine a few of these jewels.

How many books attempt to explain why we have a rainbow? The Bible answers this with great clarity. I cannot remember any of my school books attempting to answer this. Have you ever wondered why this phenomenon has not been discussed more in our literature? God placed a bow in the clouds as a covenant between himself and Noah and every living creature for perpetual generations that "the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh" (Gen. 9:8-17). Not many writers have attempted to answer this, but "It's in The Book."

How many books explain why we have the four seasons and why they continue to come every year with regularity and at the same time of year? There may be some, but I can't think of any that do. "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Gen. 8:22). The reason we have them is because God said we would. The same reason we have night and day with regularity. The Bible even defines what a day is (Gen. 1:5). Every season and every day and night continually reminds us that God is keeping his word. It is dependable and true and will stand forever (Matt. 24:35). We would not know the reason for the seasons except that "It's in The Book."

Most textbooks accept that different languages are spoken in different parts of the world. I know of none that explains why. That is, none but the Bible. At one time "the whole earth was of one language and of one speech" (Gen. 11:1). But because man sought to build "a tower whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Gen. 11:4). God did not want man centralized in one place. He wanted man to "replenish the earth" (Gen. 1:28).

It is possible that this tower was built as a refuge in case of another flood like the one a hundred years earlier in the time of Noah. It is also possible that man would have de-voted this tower to idolatrous worship, as secular history says Nebuchadnezzar did. Them was a defiance in the people to outsmart God. But God confounded their speech and scattered them abroad upon all the face of the earth (Gen.11:7-9). There is an irony here. In their pride that they were building the tower to "make a name for themselves." Yet we do not find in history the name of so much as one of them. The only name preserved is the name Babel, "because the Lord did confound their language" (Gen.11:7). We would never have known this except that "It's in The Book."

What is the purpose of the sun, moon, stars, etc.? The Bible tells us. (1) They were given for light (Gen.1:15), (2) Appropriate lights were given to divide the day and night (1:18), (3) They are for signs, seasons, days, and years (1:14). Farmers often plan their crops and tend their animals according to these heavenly bodies. Their regularity was used by the Jews to determine certain feasts. (4) They were given to declare the glory of God and to give him praise (Ps.19:1, 2; 148:3).

Can you count the stars? With the Hubbell telescope the estimate has been revised to over 50 billion in our galaxy alone. But only God knows their number and all their names (Ps. 147:4). The Bible implies they are innumerable but many and that they form constellations (Isa. 43:10). This was said before the invention of Hubbell or even the simplest, cheapest amateur telescope. In fact, it was said before the invention of binoculars, eye glasses, or contact lenses.

The stars were not made to be worshiped (Deut. 4:19) or to be used to predict the future (Isa. 47:13). The old time children's song had it right all the time. Stars don't talk, they twinkle. "It's in The Book."

Most textbooks accept that different languages are spoken in different parts of the world. I know of none that explains why. That is, none but the Bible. At one time "the whole earth was of one language and of one speech" (Gen. 11:1). But because man sought to build "a tower whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Gen. 11:4). God did not want man centralized in one place. He wanted man to "replenish the earth" (Gen. 1:28).

It is possible that this tower was built as a refuge in case of another flood like the one a hundred years earlier in the time of Noah. It is also possible that man would have de-voted this tower to idolatrous worship, as secular history says Nebuchadnezzar did. Them was a defiance in the people to outsmart God. But God confounded their speech and scattered them abroad upon all the face of the earth (Gen.11:7-9). There is an irony here. In their pride that they were building the tower to "make a name for themselves." Yet we do not find in history the name of so much as one of them. The only name preserved is the name Babel, "because the Lord did confound their language" (Gen.11:7). We would never have known this except that "It's in The Book."

What is the purpose of the sun, moon, stars, etc.? The Bible tells us. (1) They were given for light (Gen.1:15), (2) Appropriate lights were given to divide the day and night (1:18), (3) They are for signs, seasons, days, and years (1:14). Farmers often plan their crops and tend their animals according to these heavenly bodies. Their regularity was used by the Jews to determine certain feasts. (4) They were given to declare the glory of God and to give him praise (Ps.19:1, 2; 148:3).

Can you count the stars? With the Hubbell telescope the estimate has been revised to over 50 billion in our galaxy alone. But only God knows their number and all their names (Ps. 147:4). The Bible implies they are innumerable but many and that they form constellations (Isa. 43:10). This was said before the invention of Hubbell or even the simplest, cheapest amateur telescope. In fact, it was said before the invention of binoculars, eye glasses, or contact lenses.

The stars were not made to be worshiped (Deut. 4:19) or to be used to predict the future (Isa. 47:13). The old time children's song had it right all the time. Stars don't talk, they twinkle. "It's in The Book."

For years almost every presidential candidate has had the "solution" for poverty. The late president John F. Kennedy said, "We now have within our grasp the power to eradicate poverty." He said that when both houses of Congress were controlled by his party. Yet neither party has come close to eradicating it. There is a reason. Jesus said "For the poor ye will always have with you" (Matt. 26:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8). Poverty will never be totally eradicated. "It's in The Book."

A simple reason. Jesus said it would "not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). "The word of the Lord abideth forever" (1 Pet. 1:25). The Bible prophesied its own perpetuity. One of the best ways to prove the Bible wrong is to totally destroy it. No book has had more attempts made toward its destruction, yet there are more Bibles today than there are of any other book. It continues to survive and shine brighter. The reason for this is "It's in The Book."

This is just a sampling of truths revealed in this remark-able book. The fact that it reveals truths such as these should intrigue us to consider its answers on life's greatest questions. Every man, woman, boy, and girl should want to know the purpose and meaning of life. 'Where did I come from?," "Why am I here?," and "Where am I going?," are all answered in the Bible. Other equally important questions are answered too, such as: "Whom Say Ye That I Am?" (Matt. 16:13-19). "What Is Truth?" (John 17:17). "What Shall I Do With Jesus Who Is Called Christ?" (Matt. 27:22). "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:38).

This unique book has the answers you so desperately need. There is an urgency that you get those answers and act upon them. All who reject it will be damned on judgment day (John 12:48). Everything you need to know is "in The Book."

For years almost every presidential candidate has had the "solution" for poverty. The late president John F. Kennedy said, "We now have within our grasp the power to eradicate poverty." He said that when both houses of Congress were controlled by his party. Yet neither party has come close to eradicating it. There is a reason. Jesus said "For the poor ye will always have with you" (Matt. 26:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8). Poverty will never be totally eradicated. "It's in The Book."

A simple reason. Jesus said it would "not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). "The word of the Lord abideth forever" (1 Pet. 1:25). The Bible prophesied its own perpetuity. One of the best ways to prove the Bible wrong is to totally destroy it. No book has had more attempts made toward its destruction, yet there are more Bibles today than there are of any other book. It continues to survive and shine brighter. The reason for this is "It's in The Book."

This is just a sampling of truths revealed in this remark-able book. The fact that it reveals truths such as these should intrigue us to consider its answers on life's greatest questions. Every man, woman, boy, and girl should want to know the purpose and meaning of life. 'Where did I come from?," "Why am I here?," and "Where am I going?," are all answered in the Bible. Other equally important questions are answered too, such as: "Whom Say Ye That I Am?" (Matt. 16:13-19). "What Is Truth?" (John 17:17). "What Shall I Do With Jesus Who Is Called Christ?" (Matt. 27:22). "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:38).

This unique book has the answers you so desperately need. There is an urgency that you get those answers and act upon them. All who reject it will be damned on judgment day (John 12:48). Everything you need to know is "in The Book."

Guardian of Truth XLI: 3 p. 1
February 6, 1997