February 9, 2025
We also discover how to worship a Holy God. We learn how to listen to Him. We learn how to talk to Him. We learn how incredibly much He loves us. We learn how incredibly much He wants us to love Him. We learn how to discover and follow His will for our lives. We learn what it means and how to yield to that will.
with Pastor Terrell
If the Bible is the “Basic Information” we need for living our lives here on earth — then we would be wise to know what it says and let it shape who we are and how we live.
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” ~ Psalm 119:130 (NIV) ~
However, the son in the story was right-on-point when it comes the Bible. It is the Basic Information Before Leaving Earth — emphasis here on “Leaving Earth.” The truth is every one of us will one day leave this earth. In fact, the probability that you and I will leave stands at 100%.
BIBLE A father was approached by his small son, who told him proudly, “I know what the Bible means!” His father smiled and replied, “What do you mean, you ‘know’ what the Bible means?” The son replied, “I do know!” “Okay,” said his father. “So, son, what does the Bible mean?” “That’s easy, Daddy. It stands for… ‘BASIC INFORMATION BEFORE LEAVING EARTH’” That’s a pretty wise kid! Unfortunately, there are too many kids — and adults — who don’t know that truth about the Bible. But I am still optimistic about the future! In the book of Psalms, King David speaks over and over again about the eternal value of God’s Word: the Bible. He makes it clear that we cannot get through this life without it! Here at First Southern, we take the Bible seriously. We discover in its pages the Basic Information for Living here on Earth. We find in these precious words given to us by God, the knowledge of how to live with other people — and that is not always easy to do! We learn how to love others. We learn how to serve others. We learn how to be a godly spouse. How to be a godly parent. How to be a godly son or daughter. We learn how to be a godly citizen. How to be a godly neighbor and friend. continued
That fact alone should be enough to drive us to know our Bible. We need to know how to live here on earth — and we really need to know how to live when we leave this earth! You see, when we leave here, it leads to one of two realities. The reality of Eternal Death — eternal agony and separation from God in a place called Hell. Or, it will lead to Eternal Life — an eternity living in God’s presence in a place called Heaven. Our Book of Basic Information tells us that we must choose which of these two realities will be ours. The choice is the same for every person on earth. It is a choice that no one else can make for you. It is a choice that must be made before you leave this earth. There are no do-overs — and what you choose will be permanent. You may want to know more about the choice of Eternal Life. There are three common “Heaven” questions we typically want answers to: Where is Heaven? How do I get there? and What is Heaven like? All great questions. All answered in our Book of Basic Information. God is not keeping this information secret. Most people just don’t go to the book! You don’t have to make that mistake. HEAR your Bible through sermons, Bibles on CD’s, etc. READ your Bible every day. STUDY your Bible individually and in small groups. MEMORIZE your Bible one verse at a time. And finally, MEDITATE on your Bible. Let God’s Word sink deeply into the core of your being. Let me encourage all of you to make the right choice — the choice of Eternal Life. You can do that today. Don’t wait until it is too late to choose Jesus as Savior and Lord. Although it’s a 100% reality that we will leave this earth — we don’t know the when. You can be prepared for the right destination — right now! Blessings on your week as you consider and engage with the Bible: your Basic Information Before Leaving Earth. Then join us in Worship this Sunday as we look at KINGDOMS: A Crash Course on Heaven. We may discover answers to those three “Heaven” questions. Pastor Terrell