Conclusion
The Bible records the
history of God’s activities on behalf of humankind. Its
contents range from the creation of the world, through
the destruction of the world, and finally ends by
describing a re-creation that will be free of sin and
its corruption. God makes Himself known through the
things that He does and says. The beauty and
functionality of Creation speak of a powerful and
benevolent Maker. There is much that can be learned by
listening to Creation’s witness. But with Creation as
His only witness there are aspects of God’s character
and being that would remain unknown to us. God must
reveal Himself in a personal way in order for us to
understand Him as a personal Being. This personal
self-revelation is recorded in the Bible. It is called
special revelation. Creation’s witness is called
natural or general revelation. Both are needed to give
us an accurate image of who God is.
All the stories that you
have read in this booklet are true. They really
happened. They are not mere myths told for moral
affect. The characters are not cleaned-up to make them
more admirable, and thus better moral teachers. They
were real people in real situations. None of them was
perfect, but from each we can learn lessons of faith
that God finds noteworthy. The key to the positive
witness of each of the characters studied was that each
learned to trust God in difficult circumstances.
Although each chapter in
this booklet has the name of a human subject, this
booklet is ultimately more about God than it is about
Abraham, Rebekah, Jacob, Shamgar, David, Elijah, Elisha,
Esther, or Nehemiah. These biblical figures are revered
because they did great things. Most importantly, they
did great things that will be remembered because they
partnered with God to do them. Other men and women in
the history of this world have done ‘great’ things, but
God will not remember them at the Judgment. Only those
things that were done with His approval and partnership
will be positively remembered. If you want God to honor
and remember you, then you must learn the spiritual
lessons contained in the lives of those biblical giants
who have preceded you in faith.
Now that you know these
things the prayer of Peter seems appropriate. “You
therefore, beloved, since you know these things
beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own
steadfastness, being led away with the error of the
wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now
and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).
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