1 Peter 1:22-25
If you would, work with me on this. Get your Bible. I’ll wait. OK. Now just open it up and page through it, and as you do consider that the words on those pages are meant as a message for you from God. There is much that He wants you to know.
Within the pages of His book, God tells you about the beginnings of this world and about how you began. He relates the origins of your problem with unbelief and rebellion, and then unfolds the beautiful story of His own efforts to bring you back to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Throughout the book, we read of the heroic efforts and also the weaknesses and failings of the men and women He called to His work. In all of it the Lord God shines forth in the splendor of His holiness and the beauty of His grace.
Some of the words which you are reading in these holy scriptures began to be faithfully copied from generation to generation some 3500 years ago. God has seen to it that His word has been preserved so that even today you can read and know the things which He desires for you to know.
God testifies through His own book that the words in it are life and truth, and that if we do not hear and follow them you will forever be lost, your soul forfeit. He affirms that there are no other writings equal to it nor necessary in order to be saved and to live a life pleasing to Him. It is through His word that people are born again, and God’s word will remain forever.
Let me ask you this. Have you read God’s book? All of it? Every word? More than once? He wrote it for you! If you don’t read it all, how will you know whether or not you are missing something crucial? How will you know if you are living righteously? If you are saved and in Christ? If you have missed the whole point of life?
Now look through your Bible again. Jesus said that by His words all people would be judged (John 12:48). Do you intend to stand before God on the last Day without having read His book?