From the ArcaMax Publishing, Billy Graham Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/billygraham/s-364182-135419
Q: Recently, I read an article in one of those supermarket tabloids
that claimed the Bible is full of messages in secret code that can
reveal the future to us. The examples given were very persuasive, but
I couldn't help but wondering why God did it this way. Is this story
true? -- Mrs. K.McC.
A: No, it is not true -- and for a very good reason: God wants us to
understand the message He has given to us in the Bible. He hasn't
hidden it from us; He wants us to know it so we can make it the
foundation of our lives.
And the reason He wants us to understand the Bible's message is
because He loves us wants us to come to Him and love Him in return. A
human father doesn't refuse to tell his children what they need to
know, nor does he hide it from them; he makes it as clear as possible.
The same is true with God. As the Bible says, "What may be known about
God is plain to them (the human race), because God has made it plain
to them" (Romans 1:19).
What is the Bible's message? First, it is a message about us and our
need of God. We were created to know Him -- but we have chosen to go
our own way, and are cut off from Him as a result. This is what the
Bible calls "sin," and it tells us that "all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
But the Bible also gives us a message of hope. God loves us, and He
sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to take away our sins
and bridge the gap between us and God. He did this by dying on the
cross for us, and now He offers us salvation as a free gift if we will
only trust Him as our Lord and Savior. By a simple prayer of faith ask
Christ to come into your life today.
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Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C.,
28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.