Why Should I Care What the Bible Says?

In short, the Bible is God’s word to mankind. It’s everything we need to know about who He is and who we are. These are two of the biggest questions that everyone, at some point in their life, will ask. One of the most wonderful things about the Bible is that it addresses these questions, and many more, in depth.  
 
Is there a God, and if so, who is He? 
You don’t have to read very far into the Bible to see that there is a God. You only have to read the first four words: “In the beginning, God…”. Genesis 1 tells us all about how God has always existed and how everything apart from Him was created by Him.  
 
So, if God exists, then who is He? The Bible is God’s word to mankind, His self-revelation to His creation. God has given us the Bible so that we can know Him. The Bible describes many aspects of God’s character to us. He is:
 

• Constant, unchanging (Malachi 3:6) 
• All-powerful, able to do anything he pleases (Jeremiah 32: 17) 
• Knows everything (Psalm 139:1-6) 
• Everywhere at all times (Psalm 139:7-10) 
• Faithful (Isaiah 54:10) 

 
There are countless other ways we get to see a glimpse of who God is in the Bible. For our purposes here, just know that the Bible is very thorough in its description of what God is like, and by reading His words to us, we can know Him in ways that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
 
Who am I? 
At this point, you may be thinking, so there’s a God, and I can learn about him in the Bible; how is that relevant to me today? Well, I’d argue there’s nothing more relevant. Let’s discuss four questions that everyone will ask about themselves at some point or another during their life.
 

1. Where do I come from?   

Obviously, we know that we all came from our mother’s womb. But where did our parents come from, and their parents, and their parents? Where did mankind originate? The Bible tells us that the God who we mentioned above, who knows all and can do all things, has divinely coordinated all of these things together. Genesis 1 and 2 describe how God created mankind. Psalm 139 paints a beautiful picture of God’s handiwork and care as he forms each individual in the womb of their mother.  
 
Knowing the God of the Bible grounds you and gives you a confidence in the purpose of his design of you.
 

2. Where do I go after this? 

Death is a certainty that none of us are immune to. And there is plenty of speculation about what happens after this life, but the truth is, we can’t know what comes next until we are there, at which point it’s too late to tell others. But what’s special about the Bible is that it’s not man’s speculation, it’s not a human passing on knowledge they’ve acquired by experience to another human; rather, it is the word of God given to us, that we might know with certainty what to expect. The all-knowing God, who created us and loves us, wants us to be deeply aware of the reality that follows this life.  
 
In God’s words to us, we learn that God created us to be in a relationship with Him, but because we sinned against Him, and He is holy, we had to be punished. As a result, we are no longer able to commune with Him in the way we were able to in the beginning. But instead of leaving us to live apart from Him, He sent his Son to rescue us, to take our punishment upon Himself so that we might be forgiven of our offenses against God and that our relationship could be restored with Him. In part, we are able to experience that relationship today, but the restoration will be complete on the day that Christ returns and judges all. Those who are in Christ will remain with Him and experience the joy of His presence all the days of eternity. But those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior will be cast into Hell, separated from God’s presence for all eternity. This is all the result of who God is, a perfect, holy, and just God who cannot and will not tolerate rebellion against His perfect rule over all.
 
What’s so wonderful about the Bible in regards to this question, is that God has graciously made known to us through His Word the reality that is before us, and has allowed us the opportunity to admit our rebellion against Him and to accept Christ as our Savior who has paid the price for our rebellion. His grace and mercy towards those who turn from their sins and confess Him as Lord not only saves them from eternal suffering and separation from Him, but also brings them into joyful communion and peace with our Creator!
 

3. Why am I here?

 Ok, so we’ve discussed where we come from and where we will go; what about the present? What am I here for? What is the point of this life? The Bible tells us that we are created to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7). What glorifies God most is when we appreciate who He is, when we speak highly of Him or appreciate what He has made and given us. Glorifying God is simple in theory, but in many ways, difficult to execute. Really, it’s about keeping God in His proper place as creator of all, ruler over all, and living in a way that demonstrates His authority over your life.  
 
The best part about submission to our Good God is that it is good for us! When we truly submit to his good authority, when we live to bring Him glory, that’s when we really thrive because it’s what we were created for! We live in peace, without striving for acceptance, without needing to prove our worth. We don’t get caught up in destructive behaviors that harm ourselves and others. Good authority is a source of blessing to those under it and that is the gift that God Himself is to us.
 
Just as you can’t really feel sorry about something if you aren’t sure what you are feeling sorry  about, you can’t really worship God if you don’t have an accurate picture of who He is. Thankfully, God has given us everything we need in the Bible to know Him so that we are able to live out our purpose to worship Him.
 

4. How should I live? 

This question addresses the issue of morals; is there a right or wrong way to live? As we read the Bible, we can find guidance in how to act in certain situations. There isn’t necessarily a hard and fast rule about what to do in situation A, B, or C, but what we do get is a standard of character qualities that are right, namely God Himself. As we look to God, we see what is good and right and true. Genesis 1:27 tells us that man (mankind) was created in the image of God. This means that we were made to reflect God and his perfect attributes. So as we look to God and see the standard of what is good and right and true, we know that the proper way to respond in a given situation is in a way that will most clearly display the attributes of God himself. In a world where each person tries to dictate “what is right for me,” the Bible gives us an objective “what is right.” And so, we seek to learn about God and His character in His Word, so that we are able to live in a way that aligns with God’s character, to live in a way which projects God’s perfection for the world to see.
 
I hope you can see that the Bible is of the utmost relevance. In reading the Bible, we can learn about God. And in learning about God, we find answers to the major identity questions we all seek to answer throughout our lives. There is nothing more relevant than knowing the God who rules over us or than knowing who we are ourselves.