People do the Strangest Things
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes. – Psalm 119:9-12 NKJV.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV.
In Yukon, Oklahoma, a man has been booked into jail and charged with second-degree burglary. What was it that Tyler Challis stole that was worth the risk of committing a felony? Apparently, it was for two quarters and a nickel, just 55 cents, that he risked his freedom by breaking into a car at an apartment.
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Michael Hankins’ pickup truck was stolen, and he did what anyone would do…no, maybe only he and Tyler Challis would do something like this. He called 911, and not only reported his pickup stolen, but also said that it had been stolen with his 6-year-old daughter still inside. It was true, except for the daughter being abducted thing. His daughter was safe; he said he lied about it so there would be a faster response by the police. Hankins was arrested and charged with falsely causing activation of an Amber Alert. No news about the stolen truck, but if you are in jail you don’t need a truck anyway do you?
People continually do the strangest things, and often they are referred to as being dumb criminals or worse. However, many people do some things that they regret, and they know are wrong, even if they have broken no laws. Is there any hope for Tyler Challis and Michael Hankins? Will they continue to do more of the same in the future? Unless they have a moral grounding, a moral anchor, it is very likely that we have not heard the last news report about them.
The Word of God is an anchor for the moral character of everyone that takes advantage of it. As Paul says to Timothy, “All Scripture…is profitable…for instruction in righteousness.” The Word of God will help you to learn to act right, and speak right. Paul also says that “All Scripture…is profitable…for reproof, for correction.” When you have the Word of God within you it will correct you when you begin to act strangely human like Tyler and Michael. God’s Word is like an anchor that can keep you from floating away from where you belong.
How can words on a page of a book help you to live right? Because the Words in the Bible are alive “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God….” No other book can do what the Bible can do for your life, because only the words contained in the Bible are the living Words of God. The apostle John writes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:1-4).” John makes it clear who he is talking about in John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
When you begin to act strangely like a human, instead of going to jail, or wrecking your life in some other way; try something different for a change. That dusty old book, you know the one, the Bible; get it down, open it up and begin to read. It might just change your life, and it could, even keep you out of jail.
(The Word of God is an anchor for the moral character of everyone that takes advantage of it.)