The Author of Life Has Written a Great Book

By Gobel Brockman


I think it's fair to say that I've read more books in the past year than I probably have in the last ten. (Downloading a Kindle app to my iPad probably had a bit to do with that.) As a result I've learned a lot from some great authors and ministers. I've been challenged by David Platt, encouraged by Phillip Corbett, and I've been stirred in my spirit by Ryan LeStrange. But there are two I want to talk about specifically.

My brother-in-law Rodney Burton, who is a Pastor in Illinois, has written a few books. All are exceptional, and "Sustaining God's Presence" is an especially good read. And this past week, Pastor Randall E. Burton of Northview Assembly of God in Columbus, Indiana, released his first book, "River Rising" of which I recently completed my third reading.  (You can find books by Rodney Burton and Randall E. Burton on Amazon, or if you wish to order directly from them you can contact me and I'll get you the info. I recommend both of these men's works to you very highly.)

The point I wanted to make is that as I was reading Randy's book, the thought occurred to me that it's really different reading a book when you know the author personally. 

(I'll bet some of you have already figured out where I'm going with this...)

As soon as that thought came to me, I instantly thought of a book I've tried to be faithfully read for over 34 years now - the Bible. I've read and re-read it several times. One of the things I find amazing about Bible study is that you can read a passage of Scripture that you've read countless times before and still learn something new. But the thought came to me that because I know the Author, its words have even deeper meaning to me. I read John 14:6 where Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me" and it's not just literature, because in my life Jesus has indeed shown me the way, told me the truth, and given me life. When I read the power and the promises that He spoke through His apostles and prophets, I know the Author is speaking them directly to me, and because of living for Him these past 34 years I know that He's true to what He wrote.

A story is told of an actor who performed a one-man play to an appreciative audience. As an encore, he recited the 23rd Psalm with great articulation. He then saw an elderly gentleman sitting on the front row that he had known for years. He asked the man to come up and recite the same Psalm. With a little reluctance he finally agreed, then recited it from memory in a manner that proved he not only knew the words, he believed them. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. The actor then stepped forward and told the crowd, "The difference you have just experienced is this: I know the Psalm; he knows the Shepherd."

My message to you this week is very simple. Most of you reading this have at least one Bible in your home. I hope you're using it for more than a coaster or an end table decoration. There is life, help, and hope in its pages. My encouragement to you is to pick it up, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you through what it says, and let it speak to your heart.

And I encourage you even more to get to know the Author.