By Van Yandell
2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Several of the highlights of my life were mission assignments in other countries. What makes them so memorable and special are the people we meet. Usually we think of the citizens of whichever country we are in.
Many times, however, we meet people that are a participant of the trip that really strike us as very special. One such person was Willa.
We were in Seoul, South Korea. Several of us had to spend an extra day in Seoul before we could leave to go to our assignment. Margie and I were to go to Taebeck for one week and then on to Donghae for a second week.
Our work was to teach ESL (English as a Second Language) to children and youth in churches. Being an industrial educator, teaching ESL was to be a new experience and I really had great anticipation for meeting the people and sharing with them.
While in Seoul, I noticed one of the ladies with us I had never met prior to the trip, continually reading her Bible. I remember thinking, “I’m addicted to my Bible, but not to this extent.”
Finally, she put the Bible down and I asked, “You apparently find the Bible as intriguing as I do.” Her response was, “I read a Bible for my grandchildren.” I was like, “What?”
She explained! “For every one of my grandchildren, I read a Bible all the way through. I write them letters and notes explaining things and tell them how I’m praying for them.”
I was blown away! What a wonderful thing to do! I asked, “How many grandchildren do you have? “ “Eight,” she said. At the time Margie and I had one granddaughter. My thought was, “If Willa can read eight Bibles all the way through, surely I can read one.”
Our granddaughter was born in 2006 and my mother had died in 2005. I had a brand-new Bible I had bought for Mom about 1990. She had lived through the Great Depression so she saved everything for another day, including the Bible I had given her. Instead she continued to read her very worn Bible.
When we returned to the U.S., I immediately looked for and found that blue cover, King James, red letter Bible and began reading. I had for years written notes and underlined in my Bibles so that action was nothing new.
About six months later, the reading was completed. When we visited the children, I delivered the Bible. On that visit we discovered our daughter-in-law was pregnant with number two.
I immediately told Margie, “I’ve got to go to a bookstore and buy another Bible.” We found a Christian book store in Altamont Springs and I purchased a new, leather backed Bible and soon began the second read.
When our grandson was one hour old, I sat in the hospital in Winter Park, Florida, and wrote him a letter in the Bible. My prayer was, the Bibles would be read and valued when both were older and that the Bibles will be kept.
I cannot think of a better way to convey to a young person, grandchild, niece or nephew or any other child, the value of God’s teachings and the importance of including those teachings in one’s life.
The leading scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16, tells us “All scripture is inspired by God.” To even begin to contemplate the Creator of the universe giving us a book (actually sixty-six books), to reveal Himself to us is mind boggling.
In reading and studying the Bible, one realizes the information was not written from the mind of a mere mortal. I cannot imagine anyone actually delving deeply into the scriptures and having any doubt of its origin and authenticity.
There are some things we do on this earth that will be here long after we are gone. I imagine those that built the pyramids had no idea people would be visiting them 5,000 years later.
A question we may ask ourselves, “What can I do while on this earth that will make a difference in a million years.” The only reasonable answer to a believer is, “tell someone about Jesus.”
If you or I read and dedicate the reading to a specific person, for example a grandchild, that grandchild might share the Gospel with someone 50 years from now. My four grandparents died before I was born. It would be such a blessing to have something they had written.
In a past article titled “Resolve to Write it Down,” my point was to show the importance of passing on the history of the family, the community and the nation. To pass on the book of the faith and the faith itself is more important.
The range of possibilities for our actions is unbounded. Good or bad, right or wrong, some things last longer that we may at first think. We are accountable for our actions but the comforting thing is, God forgives sins. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Almost nine of ten households (87%) own a Bible according to the American Bible Society. The average household has three. Perhaps you have a Bible you can gift to someone. Perhaps the child of a close friend or relative would be appropriate for the project of reading the Bible completely. It would be a special gift with life-long effects.
I have come to believe over the years, there is no greater gift a parent or grandparent can give to a child than an appreciation for the Word of God. The Bible teaches us where we came from and where we are going.
It teaches us how to live and how to die. Life’s most compelling questions and mysteries are answered in the Bible. There is no greater text known to mankind than the Holy Bible.
Pray for your children and grandchildren and teach them about Christ Jesus, crucified for the remission of sin and resurrected.
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary.
