BGAV President’s Column

by Ron Gravatt

Some folks refer to the Bible as The Good Book. But no one titles it The Greatest Book or The Awesome Book. Perhaps that is because, even among passages that display “the good, the bad, and the ugly,” the Bible consistently focuses on the good that we find in God. Whether you are a recent convert or were raised in the church, the Good Book should serve as a constant reminder that we all are called not only to be good but also to do good.

The late Billy Graham, evangelist for a worldwide congregation and counsel to generations of US Presidents, suggested that anyone unfamiliar with biblical teachings should start by reading five Psalms and one chapter from the book of Proverbs each day. At that pace, a reader can finish each book in about a month. It’s a good introduction: the Psalms are Hebrew poetry and praise at their best, and Proverbs are, in many ways, a distillation of what is called “wisdom literature,” providing examples of how to live at the highest level of satisfaction.

Living in the Shenandoah Valley, I easily relate to notions like this from the Psalms, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.” Here, the hills are alive with the sounds, sights, and signs of both the Creator and Creation. Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Christians there were asked if they continued having worship services. They not only responded in the affirmative; they noted that they had sung “Count Your Blessings” while hearing the sounds of explosions outside. When I heard that, I looked unto the hills and thanked God for little things like breathing air not mixed with the smell of spent ammunition.

One proverb says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” In our often uncivil environment that could translate as, “Debate, but don’t berate!” or “Discuss, but don’t ‘dis’ or ‘cuss’!” Jews and Christians alike have covenanted to model righteous and godly lifestyles, and the covenant is still in force. Are we reflecting God’s will? The Psalms and Proverbs are only parts of the Good Book, though. We need to renew our understanding of the evolution of our faith as described in Hebrews. There, the message is clear: from the animal sacrifices performed by priests to the self-sacrifice of the High Priest Himself, we learn that our familial re-connection with God the Father depends upon the gift of the life of God’s Son! It is love that is unimaginable except in the context of a grand—indeed, divine—plan. That plan includes God’s desire that each of us will proclaim Him as Lord and live with Him forever.

Matthew recounts Jesus teaching that, while practicing our faith, we should be mindful of God’s—not man’s—approval: are we meek, do we strive to be righteous, do we practice mercy, do we pray for and work toward peace, are we truly pure in heart? In similar fashion the Apostle Paul, after a reminder that, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” explains what that looks like in practice: through the presence of the Holy Spirit, we experience love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Come what may, the Good Book teaches that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” The message never changes; we are enjoined to be good and to do good. The question that remains is this: can we do even better?

Ron Gravatt is the 2022 BGAV President.