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Records, records, records: I’m talking about documents, papers, certificates, diplomas, permits, licenses, subpoenas, writs, articles, affidavits, contracts, statements, testimonies, receipts, purchase orders, warrants etc... .
Records are made when we’re born. We don't get a choice. We have to keep them for each vaccination we receive. We use records when we drive, switch schools, graduate from high school or college, get a job, get married, move to another state, travel outside the country, choose certain careers, pay taxes, open a bank account, or retire. Records are required to play in little league. We even have to create and process records when we die. Whew!
We, the human race, believe in keeping good records. If we don’t, it makes a person more susceptible to neglect or fraud. Records hold the human race accountable. There must be a solid testimony as to the validity of everything we do in a responsible society.
The Old Testament law (of the Bible) reads:
One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. (Deuteronomy 19.15)
We still have many laws today that support this biblical concept though we do not hold fastidiously to that principle.
Because of man’s poor memory and also because of his tendency to lie, God required more than one witness to any serious accusation. Remember, just because someone is accused, it doesn’t make them guilty. The second and third witness nails down the accusation.
What we do continue to do even today is this: We rely on the record and testimony of people. The more “official” it is, the more we rely on it.
If we believe in man’s testimony, and we usually do, how much more should we believe God’s?
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5.9-13)
- God’s witness is the witness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- It is borne out by holy men of God. (2 Peter 1.21)
- It was accompanied by signs and miracles to prove it's validity.
- It is verified by the fulfillment of prophecies.
- God is never mistaken in his witness.
- God cannot and does not lie. (Numbers 23.19; Titus 1.2)
- The subject of God’s witness is Jesus Christ, his Son.
His witness is very clear. Though there are many things in the bible which we may not understand and never will, this witness concerning his Son is unmistakable. It is this:
- Eternal life is a gift.
- This eternal life is found in God’s Son.
- We are "in" him if we believe on him.
- He who has the Son (Jesus) has this glorious eternal life.
- He who doesn’t have his Son Jesus does not have this gift of eternal life.
This is the record. This is the testimony. This is God’s witness. It sounds to me like he wants you to know. He must love you very much!
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