Pictured to the left is a copy of the New Revised Standard Version ( NRSV ) of the Holy Bible. The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"This preface is addressed to you by the Committee of translators, who wish to explain, as briefly as possible, the origin and character of our work. The publication of our revision is yet another step in the long, continual process of making the Bible available in the form of the English language that is most widely current in our day. To summarize in a single sentence: the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is an authorized revision of the Revised Standard Version, published in 1952, which was a revision of the American Standard Version, published in 1901, which, in turn, embodied earlier revisions of the King James Version, published in 1611." [ See HOLY BIBLE, New Revised Standard Version, Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, U.S.A., Copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, p. vii. ]
Job 24:1-8 read as follows:
"Why are times not kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see days? The wicked remove landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them. They drive away the donkey of the orphan; they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They thrust the needy off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves. Like wild asses in the desert they go out to their toil, scavenging in the wasteland food for their young. They reap in a field not their own and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked. They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and cling to the rock for want of shelter" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
Psalm 61:1-3 read as follows:
"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
Psalm 61:1-3 ( KJV ) read as follows:
"HEAR my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
Romans 12:1, 2 read as follows:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect."
James 1:27 reads as follows:
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
From Job 24:7, 8 we learn the spiritual plight of the wicked. Specifically, they are spiritually naked and, thus, they are exposed to the cold, harsh elements of this sinful world ( see John 16:1-11 ( especially verse 8, for example ), for example ) in which we live. They have no shelter from these elements.
The lesson we learn from Psalm 61:1-3 is that God is our refuge ( or the word "shelter"; KJV ). God will shelter us from the enemy. Who is this enemy, ultimately? Jesus ( see Matthew 13:34 ) said in Matthew 13:39 that the enemy is the devil ( please read Matthew 13:34-42 to get the context ).
With Romans 12:1, 2 and James 1:27 in mind, when one is not conformed to this world, then that one keeps himself or herself unstained by the world. God, through His will, will shelter us from this sinful world. 1 Timothy 2:3, 4 ( KJV ) read as follows: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." God's will is clearly stated in the preceding passage from the Holy Bible. See also 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 and James 1:19-21 ( especially verse 21, for example ), for example.
Only the "one who believes and is baptized will be saved" ( see Mark 16:16 ). We know that when one is baptized, by immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of his or her sins, that such individual puts on Christ ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ), Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), and Galatians 3:27, for example ); becoming a Christian ( see Acts 11:26, for example ).
Therefore, if one is a Christian, he or she lives a sheltered life; being sheltered by God from this sinful world. Those of us who are Christians must not allow sinners ( see Matthew 26:45, for example ) to try to discourage us ( see Hebrews 12:3, for example ) from living such a sheltered life. Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>
NOTE: In the bibliography of the copy of the New Revised Standard Version ( NRSV ) of the Holy Bible ( pictured above ), a national council of Churches of Christ is referenced. It is important to understand that the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18 and Romans 16:16, for example ) is not a member of any such national council of churches. Such a structure is not authorized in the Holy Bible. Rather, each local congregation ( see Galatians 1:2, for example ) of the universal church of Christ ( see Ephesians 1:22, 23, for example ) is to be autonomous; having elders and deacons in those local congregations where men are qualified to serve as elders and deacons ( see Acts 14:23; 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4, for example ).
