Fast Is Fine
Posted on February 23, 2017 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters
Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.” ~ Wyatt Earp
An inaccurate map is not a reliable map. “X” may mark the spot where the treasure is buried, but unless the seeker can locate “X” in relation to known landmarks or positions, the map is not very useful. The U.S. Geological Survey publishes maps and other products of high levels of accuracy. Dependability is vital, for example, to engineers, highway officials, and land-use planners who use the Survey’s topographic maps as a basic planning tool. As a result, the U.S. Geological Survey makes every effort to achieve a high level of accuracy in all of its published products. An important aim of its accuracy control program is to meet the U.S. National Map Accuracy Standards.
The first of these standards is the horizontal accuracy standard that requires the positions of 90 percent of all points tested will be accurate within l/50th of an inch (0.05 centimeters) on the map. To do this the scale or benchmarks used to produce the maps and the measuring tools must be true and universalized. This is what we mean by a “ontic” reference point. It’s what corresponds with reality and everyone, in all times, places, and circumstances can rely on it. If measurements such as inches or centimeters were defined by each individual, nothing would be accurate or useful, and when used for map making, would have everyone “falling off the edge of the map.”
The map God has provided us to navigate this life is the Bible, and the scale used for the accuracy of that map is Jesus Christ. The question most people would ask at this point is “Can I trust the Bible?” The evidence is overwhelming that supports the answer “yes” to that question. The most important evidence is its ‘Early Testimony about Jesus.’ The New Testament documents that support the testimony of the Life of Christ, have more manuscripts (over 25,000), earlier manuscripts (originals written within 25 years of the events of Jesus’ life), and more abundantly supported manuscripts than the best ten pieces of classical literature combined.
Is this enough evidence to get someone to believe in Jesus as their Savior? Probably not, BUT, it is enough to testify to the accuracy of the ‘scale’ to which the Bible is based on. Not to bore you with statistics, but there are more ‘non-biblical’ writers who mention Jesus within 150 years of his life then Tiberius , the Roman Emperor of the same time. If you include the Christian sources to the mix, authors mentioning Jesus outnumber those mentioning Tiberius 43:1!
Don’t take my word for it, I hope you go find out for yourself how accurate the Bible is. Probably the best test you could apply is actually apply the principles to which it teaches. An event that supports this would be when Jesus had been teaching from Peter’s fishing boat, having been pressed from the shore by the crowds. When He was finished, Jesus told Peter to push out into the deep and let down his nets. Peter was reluctant because they had been out all night and had caught nothing. And I am sure the whole crew was thinking: “What does this carpenter-turned-teacher know about fishing?” It wasn’t even the right time of day. But Peter obeyed anyway, saying “because you say so, I will do it.” They caught so many fish that it almost sank two boats. What did He learn? When we navigate in accordance with the Word of God, our lives will overflow with His blessing. When we live by our own finite abilities, we are stuck with the limits we produce. It is your choice, God will not force you. Actually He will give you the desires of your heart, because that is what perfect love does.
I pray you choose wisely…
“Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” (Proverbs 30:5)
Praying 4 U
Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.
The Daily Bible Reading: Job 13-14 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “There are enough evidences of supreme skill in the structure of the human hand alone to prove the existence, intelligence and benevolence of God in the face of all the sophistry of infidelity.”– A. B. Simpson
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. Psalm 71:23
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