Who care about the 3.38983%?

After I set out to refute Christianity intellectually and couldn't, I came to the conclusion the Bible was true and Jesus Christ was God's Son.  (Josh McDowell)

Few days ago while reading a local newspaper; I saw a very tiny article on ‘No decision to release Bibles’. I immediately took a ruler and starts to measure. The size for the article is 4cm x 10cm and 1 full page of this newspaper is 29.5cm x 40cm. That means (4 x 10)/ (29.5 x 40) x 100% = 3.38983% space ONLY reserve for this important news to all genuine Christian community in Malaysia! (I write genuine because some obviously don’t care.)

According to the Population and Housing Census of Malaysia conducted in 2000, over 75% of Malaysian Christians live in Sabah and Sarawak. Here I quote;

“That works out to some 1.5 million Christians, with the majority being Bumiputras who use their ethnic languages and Bahasa Malaysia in their language. As far back as the 17^th century, Bahasa Malaysia has been the language used in their worship, sermons, prayer and religious education… over the peninsular, there are also many Christians, such as the Orang Asli, whose first language is Bahasa Malaysia and who rely on the Alkitab (the Bible) for their spiritual nourishment and religious instruction… but with the Government’s determined effort to prohibit the translation and circulation of Bahasa Malaysia Christian publications and the Alkitab, Bumiputra Christians in Peninsular and East Malaysia will soon be deprived of the opportunity of religious instruction in a language that they have been raised up with.”

(Source: Reliable, trust me on this.)

What is your reaction to this? Mad? Sad? Indifference? Let me ask another question - for those who is a Christian but never bother to read the Bible, by what right do you have to stand for something that you did not appreciate at the first place? 

The Bible is the Word of God; it is the only document that is ‘living’. In other words, it is relevant for all people in all places in any time period. It’s too old, some of its writings date back 5,000 years but it’s not surprising that those who read this book with open heart had experience comfort, joy, insight, wisdom, knowledge, and the key to living. The Bible has been banned, burned, scoffed, and ridiculed. Educated people have mocked it as foolish. Kings, presidents, prime ministers and dictators have banned it as illegal. No matter how human forces may hide it truth, it has survived, it has strives! It is the single most popular book in all of history. Over the centuries, about 6 billion copies of Bible have been sold – the best-selling book in the worlds for years!

One of my favorites author Max Lucado explained it well, ‘There is no way on earth to explain it. Which perhaps is the only explanation. The answer? The Bible’s durability is not found on earth; it is found in heaven. For the millions who have tested its claims and claimed its promises there is but one answer – the Bible is God’s book and God’s voice.’

I would like to congratulate you for reading this note up to this paragraph. My purpose for this note is not to against the Government but I just want to highlight that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia had been banned here in Malaysia. My purpose is not to give you a history lessons about the Bible, though you may find it is helpful, but I just want YOU to know that the Bible that you are holding now or somewhere in the old bookshelf is a treasure from Heaven given by God to you. My ultimate purpose is not just to create awareness to appreciate your Bible more, but I urge or rather on behalf of all of God’s people who know the truth; plea, request, appeal, cry and urge you to study your Bible.

Have you read your Bible lately?

Ask – Pray, asking God to help us to understand the Scripture. Jesus said, ‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.’ (John 14:26)

Seek – Roll your sleeves and search. ‘If you seek her (God’s wisdom) as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find knowledge of God.’ (Proverbs 2: 4-5)

Knock – Stand at God’s door, make yourself available… volunteer to do His will. From thinking to acting; know what to do and do it!

Remember this, the purpose of the Bible is to proclaim God’s plan and passion to save his children or in the simplest word ever in the Dictionary of the Scripture is SALVATION. ‘Ask,’ he promised. ‘and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you’ (Matthew 7:7)

You might want to read Saya sebuah Buku. Click Here

........................

P.s: Keep praying for the Al-Kitab issue here in Malaysia. Can you hear God is using difference people from every tribe to start the revolution of love in this country? Now you may hear only rumors but soon it will become a reality. Would you like to be one of them?