SWARTZ
CREEK MI – (ANS)- “The words of our Savior in
red,” some Bibles say on their spines. But what about the words printed in
black? I recently posted a picture on Facebook of a tattered Bible, opened to
no place in particular, but the two pages looking like a Technicolor
spectacular, with notes, revelations, and reminders in its margins. Bookmarks
and Post-It notes splayed forth from many spots. Many people mark verses and
passages that speak — or shout — to them in their Bibles.

Accompanying this picture I found
was the quotation by Charles Spurgeon, “People whose Bibles are falling
apart usually lead lives that aren’t.” It reminded me of the country song
whose title warned listeners against “dust on the Bible.”

There are some devout people who
think that any notes or marks we make in the Holy Bible is a form of
desecration, but I am of the school that thinks that scripture, the Holy Word,
is also God’s User Manual for Life. I suspect it pleases Him when we are
touched by a truth… want to revisit things easily… find ways we can
organize the wisdom, commands, and promises… and know it all better.

In a way, margin-notes and color
highlighters are not all that different from the old-fashioned versions of the
Bible, those “Red Letter” editions. On the spines or title pages,
sometimes, we read, “Jesus’ Words in Red.” Just so. Easy to find;
quicker to, perhaps, memorize.

Certainly there is utility in
highlighting Christ’s words. But even when a kid I used to wonder whether that
would suggest to some people that the rest of the Bible was NOT the inspired
Word of God, or not AS inspired. If God caused scripture to be written; if the
Holy Spirit inspired every word, should not ALL the Bible be printed in red
letters? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the servant of God may be perfect, thoroughly provided for all good
works” (II Timothy 3:16-17).

Again, just so. Jesus is Savior, but
we must resist the temptation, when highlighting only His words, to think that
the rest of the Bible might (as many in the world think) “merely” be
the thoughts of good men, or well-meaning legends, or less than Holy.

I have been blessed enough to visit
some of the world’s great cathedrals, and it was brought to my mind, despite
the memorable majesty, that God does not dwell only in grand churches. In fact,
we go to church to worship God, not really to meet Him. I have also been
profoundly moved in some of the world’s humblest chapels; and, so, I am sure,
you have been too. Plus, we are reminded that our very bodies are temples of
the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, like Bibles we mark and
underline, our worship-temples are not remote: they come with us, they are part
of us. A fancy Bible can prompt reverence, just as a mighty cathedral can
remind us of God’s grandeur. But if it stops there, we sadly are left with
counterfeit experiences. The Bible is, instead, a lamp unto our feet. And when
we enter the Temple of Life, so to speak — not some New Age cliché, but in the
reality of God’s habitation of every aspect of our lives — then we can
experience many “red-letter days” God intends for us.

+ + +

“The Temple of Life” is a
place we all may enter! Like Red-Letter Bibles, we run the fear of proscribing,
or categorizing, the God-portions of our lives. If we “carve out”
times for God, better it would be that we spend every hour of every day with
Him, and let that one hour on Sunday morning go astray! A musical celebration
of that point of view is this “Christian blues” song (in chord
structure, not a blue or sad theme!) — in fact an upbeat, reverent,
“Thank you Jesus” song, in the words of its closing words. That the
singer is Avril Levigne might surprise some people, but she grew up Christian
and her early performances and recordings were Jesus songs, like “Temple
of Life.”

Click: The Temple of Life

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About Rick Marschall

Rick Marschall is the author of more than 60 books and hundreds of
magazine articles in many fields, from popular culture (Bostonia
Magazine called him “perhaps America’s foremost authority on popular
culture”) to history and criticism; country music, television history,
biography and children’s books. He is a former political cartoonist,
editor of Marvel Comics, and writer for Disney comics. For 10 years he
has been active in the Christian field, writing devotionals;
co-authoring The Secret Revealed with Dr Jim Garlow; and writing a
biography of Johann Sebastian Bach for the “Christian Encounters”
series to be published by Thomas Nelson (2011). Rick is a former
Director of Product Development for Youth Specialties. He is recipient
of the 2008 “Christian Writer of the Year” award from the Greater
Philadelphia Writer’s Conference, and produces a weekly e-mail
devotional, “Monday Morning Music Ministry.” His e-mail address is: AmericaCiv@aol.com.

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