Writing Preserves the Truth - Bruce Atchison

While listening to my talking pocket Bible, I'm struck by how important writing is. Oral traditions tend to be stretched and mangled to the point that they are unrecognizable. Not so with writing. It stays the way it is unless somebody deliberately and maliciously tampers with it.

Here's one reason writing is a better way to preserve truth. Exodus 34:1 (KJV) says, "And the LORD said unto Moses, 'Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.'"

Exodus 34:27 (KJV) also shows how written words are more reliable than aural commands. "And the LORD said unto Moses, 'Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.'"

Deuteronomy 6:9 (KJV) shows how important instructional writing is as a reminder to us and our children. "And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."

Deuteronomy 17:18 (KJV) demonstrates why our rulers need the written word. "And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:"

Even songs need to be written down, according to Deuteronomy 31:19 (KJV). "Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel."

And this is a better reminder of the power of the written word regarding laws and commandments. Esther 8:8 (KJV) reads, "Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse."

Jesus showed the power of written scriptures in Matthew 4:7 (KJV) when he confronted Satan when he tried to tempt him. "Jesus said unto him, 'It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'"

God hates his words being tampered with, as the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses have done. Revelation 22:19 (KJV) warns, "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

The reason I'm quoting all these scriptures is that my goal for 2018 is to write my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many people believe that they'll go to heaven when they die but that's not always the case. As Jesus warned in Matthew 7:22 and 23 (KJV), "Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?' And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity'". How horrible it will be for those false Christians!