(2-Peter 1221): (continued)
TRAMP FOR THE LORD 297 denly, I was face-to-face with this same lady who had so adamantly disputed me some time before.
"'T am glad to see you,' she said genuinely. 'I have never been able to forget what you said when you spoke at our university when you quoted Jesus, "No man cometh unto the Father but by me." I have tried to argue with that from every angle, but am unable to get away from the fact that Jesus said it. I can argue with you, but I am having a difficult time arguing with Him.'
""How wonderful,' I told her. 'Now you are listening to the voice of God. Keep listening. He has much more to say to you.'
" Yes,' she said. 'I believe He does.' "We parted and I have not seen her since, but I know the Sword of the Spirit is still doing its work in her life."
I turned and looked at my Indian friend. He was nodding his head in understanding. "If we diligently read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will give us the right words and Scripture references," I said. "If we depend on Him, we are like the branches of these vines along the river which bear fruit. However, if the branches are broken off, then no fruit will appear."
By this time the forest had thinned out on either side of the river. We could see narrow paths which permitted the people to tread single file through the trees. It was almost dark and I saw, coming down the paths, files of Indian people carrying torches of lighted palm leaves in their hands. The white clothes they wore gave the scene a strange, ethereal appearance as though they were pilgrims walking to heaven. Many had gathered already in the pandal away in the distance and were singing a gospel song in a monotone, chanting it over and over as the white-robed pilgrims made their way to the meeting place.
After the meeting that night I lay in my little thatched hut, praising God for the power of the Word of God which had not only drawn these people together, but which had won them to the Lord Jesus Christ. In my mind I listed five reasons why I believe the Bible is inspired:
1. It says so. ". . . holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2-Peter 1221):
2. The effect it has upon all who believe and follow it.
3. Though some of it was written more than two thousand years before Jesus arrived on earth, yet all the writers agree.
4. The authors do not offer any excuses for their own faults or sins.
5. The writers record some of the most harrowing scenes which affected them greatly, yet they never express one word of emotion. The Holy Spirit wanted the facts recorded, and not their feelings about the facts.
Many persons make the mistake of thinking they can measure the certainty of their salvation by their feelings. It is the Word of God that is their foundation and