Old, But Not Old

For Christmas 2008 my wife selected . . . with my help . . . a new Bible to replace my Old Faithful that has been my constant study companion since September 1994 – a gift from Kevin Pile, a longtime friend in Los Angeles. But Old Faithful, will soon reach its 18th birthday – all 2,160 pages, plus maps and a fatigued cover (supposedly leather) that is embarrassingly showing its underwear (or whatever is glued inside the burgundy cover).

Other than being God’s message to me, my old Bible’s next important value is the personal markings I have added in our 17+-year love affair. Opening it right now I see thousands of red, blue and black underlines, yellow highlight eye-catchers, marginal reminders and personal notes to jog my memory. To anyone else it would be graffiti, but not to me.

And, beside this well-worn warrior rests my next Bible – the beautiful gift from my dear wife - stitched in rich brown European Leather, yet hardly touched in 3½ years. Believe me, I sincerely appreciate this gift, and will definitely use it . . . some day. I know it will be a trusted friend like my burgundy buddy. But how long, I ask myself, will it take to transfer 17 years of study markings into my new volume: 2,340 pages, plus maps?

I admit my old Bible is old. No argument there. But its value to me does not diminish. Just the opposite. Its value grows. We are buddies, bonded by years of interaction. You know what I mean - an often-used book is old . . . but not old.

Turn the corner with me.

The Lord’s death. His sacrificial gift. His memorial meal. His personal time with us in this remembrance. Old? Sure they’re old . . . nearly 2,000 years old. No argument there. But the value of his death, burial and resurrection. The value of his ascension into heaven. The value of partaking of his body and blood will never diminish. In fact, their value grows. We’re buddies (in a spiritual sense), bonded by years of close fellowship.

Politics and politicians grow old and change. Governors and governments grow old and

change. Kings and kingdoms grow old and change. And we work our way through these

uncomfortable changes . . . as we are now experiencing. But the word of the Lord

stands forever [1 Peter 1:25]. God’s Word is old, but not old. Because it is of highest

value. The Lord’s supper? Old, but not old. Because of its ultimate spiritual value to us.