¹⁴ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)

It’s easy to view God in abstract terms, trying to drag Him down to our level, thinking we can figure Him out. In he process of attempting to contain and explain the Lord God, we reduce Him to some theological abstraction or uncaring great entity in the sky.

God is not some impersonal deity who could care less about his creation.

Nor was Jesus merely a teacher or example of high moral values.

Do you want to know God? I mean really know Him? He reveals Himself to us in Scripture. Everything we need to know is found in this collection of God-inspired writings.

The Bible is no ordinary religious text. It is living and active, a collection of ancient writings that are as relevant today as they were centuries ago.

This collection contains:

• 66 books
• Written over the span of roughly 1400 years.
• Written down by a variety of people from many walks of life: shepherds, fishermen, military leaders, kings, commoners, wanderers, sinners, prophets, young men, old men, wise men, murderers, a tax collector, a former Pharisee Christian hunter turned believer, a physician, prisoners, prophets, bold teachers, reluctant leaders…
• Written in three ancient languages (Hebrew, Koine Greek and Aramaic).
• These books were written in several different genres, including history, eyewitness testimonies, poetic, prophetic, wisdom literature, letters, biography…
• Carefully curated and preserved to survive to modern day as the most trustworthy and accurate of ancient writings . Consider this from the Institute for Creation Studies:

There is more evidence for the Bible’s authenticity than for any literature of antiquity. Textual analysis begins with historical investigation, beginning with the latest documents and working backward. As evidence develops, the data is evaluated against other sources. The record is then checked for consistency of information, and the claims are analyzed as if it were a legal case, looking for credible testimony with cross-examination. There is an enormous amount of evidence for authenticity of the biblical manuscripts.

The New Testament was written in first century A.D. There are some 25,000 early manuscripts in existence, almost 6,000 of which (many being only recognizable fragments) are Greek texts and the others being early translations of the Greek New Testament. The earliest textual evidence we have was copied not long after the original. In contrast:

• Caesar’s Gallic Wars was written in the first century B.C. There are only 10 manuscripts in existence. The earliest textual evidence we have was copied 1,000 years after the original.
• Aristotle’s Poetics was written in the fourth century B.C. There are only 5 manuscripts in existence. The earliest textual evidence we have was copied 1,400 years after the original.

There are many more writings of the Church Fathers quoting sections of Scripture; we could reconstruct the entire New Testament from their writings alone. There were millions of man-hours spent in cross-checking the manuscripts. There remains only 1 percent of all New Testament words about which questions still exist; no questionable passage contradicts any Bible teaching.

The Old Testament has been more accurately transmitted to us than any other ancient writing of comparable age. The textual evidence is greater for both the Old and New Testaments than any other historically reliable ancient document. The ancient scribes were very meticulous. There were only 1,200 variant readings in A.D. 500.

The Masorites produced an official text in A.D. 500. There are other versions that confirm the accuracy of the Masoritic Text.

• Samaritan Pentateuch: 400 B.C.
• Septuagint Greek: 280 B.C.
• Dead Sea Scrolls: 0 A.D.
• Latin Vulgate: 400 A.D.

The quotations from pre-Christian writing confirm the text. The New Testament accepts the Old Testament as authentic, confirming the traditional authors, quoting from at least 320 different passages, and confirming the supernatural events cited in the Old Testament.

Despite all this, the Bible is an incredibly cohesive whole without contradiction.

That’s an awful lot of work for a disinterested supreme being.

When you examine these facts and read Scripture for what it is – when you notice the writers don’t paint rosey pictures of themselves but rather go to great lengths to reveal their flawed humanity, or that Jesus lived and died in a manner most difficult, most brutal, most unjust, and most unselfishly – it becomes obvious Who God is.

And that He is to be trusted.

Which brings us back to Hebrews 4:14-16. God sent His Son Jesus to restore the relationship we destroyed in the garden.

God loves us. He understands us. And Jesus experienced all that we experience. He understands. He cares. He is approachable. You can go to Him anytime and talk to Him and He will listen.

Trust God. Take Him at His Word.

Just trust Him.