Cornerstone

1 Cor 1:1-20

Luke stated Acts 1:3 that the risen Lord “shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” KJV

A student at the University of Uruguay one day asked Josh McDowell, author of “Evidence for the Resurrection”, “Professor McDowell, why can’t you refute Christianity?” “For a very simple reason,” I answered. “I am not able to explain away an event in history–the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” He states, “After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted on the minds of human beings–or it is the most remarkable fact of history.” There are many infallible proofs that will convince any person of faith but probably the final evidence that we all must embrace is discussed in the following poem:

He Is Risen!
How do I know that Christ is risen?

What proof have I to give?

He touched my life one blessed day

And I began to live.

How do I know He left the tomb

That morning long ago?

I met Him just this morning

And my heart is still aglow.

How do I know that endless life

He gained for me that day?

His life within is proof enough

Of immortality.

How do I know that Christ still lives

Rich blessings to impart?

He walks with me along the way

And lives within my heart.

–Author Unknown

Dr. Gayle Woods

Deut. 11:18-25 (19)

James S. Hewett tells that every Sunday morning the fifth graders would line up and recite a section of the creed that had been assigned to them. That continued well for awhile. Then one Sunday they began the class the same way. The first girl recited her line flawlessly: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” Next, a boy, stood up and said: “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.” Then silence settled over the class. Finally, a little girl, spoke up loudly to say, “I’m sorry, sir, but the boy who believes in the Holy Ghost is absent today!”*

If we do not have a vital relationship with the God of the Word there is no way that we can properly learn the Word of God. Learning facts from the Word of God may help us to do well in a Bible Quiz but it certainly won’t shape our character so that we are more like Christ. Only when we are in love with the Author of the Book can we have an intense love for the Bible. Having this love for the Author and the Book we then must make a concentrated effort to blend the Word of God into our lives so that it is part of the fabric of our being that determines our motives, attitudes and actions.

*Adapted from Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 63.

Dr. Gayle Woods