The Bible is Right

Willie Cato’s book “His Hand and His Heart” is about the wit and the wisdom, dedication and sacrifice of the beloved Marshall Keeble. “Brother Keeble,” as he was affectionately known, was one of the greatest preachers of the Twentieth Century. Read about this great servant of God, listen to his sermons and learn from his life. In life this giant of a little man touched thousands and, although gone from this world for many years, still impacts lives today. Like Abel, “…he being dead still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4).

Keeble’s preaching was simple, sincere, powerful and practical. He believed in God. He lived a devoted life. He sacrificed and endured much. He loved the truth, and he loved the souls of men. He preached from the heart and thousands responded to the gospel!  Keeble would often say, “The Bible is right! You can leave this meeting and go home mad, but the Bible is right! You can fuss at Keeble all night, but the Bible is right! All men can die and go to Hell, but the Bible is right!”

[Acts 17:32-34] “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter.’ So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” Is it not strange how people react to the word of God? When Paul preached at Athens, his message drew different reactions. People react differently to the truth today. Some become angry. Some shrug off the saving message of the gospel. Some rejoice and receive it. One man might say, “I didn’t get a thing out of that message.” Another might say, “That message really helped me.”

Keeble was right! Regardless how people react to it, “The Bible is right!” It is the inspired message of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It will be the standard by which we are judged (John 12:48). One can reject it, neglect it, or “interpret it” (a fancy way of saying change God’s word to fit your life instead of changing your life to fit it), but as Keeble said, “The Bible is right!”  One must hear the word! One must believe the word! One must obey the word! One must proclaim the word! One must defend the word! Why? “The Bible is right!” Keeble knew it, and so do I!

[Genesis 3:9] God called to Adam, “Where are you?” The first question in the Bible involves a man trying to hide from God. No one can hide from God. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). If you were asked the question, “Are you with the Lord or against the Lord?” what would you answer? In the great conflict of good versus evil, no middle ground exists. If we are not allied with Christ, then we are a co-worker with the evil one. If you were asked, “Are you a servant of righteousness or servant of sin?” what would your answer be? Jesus said no man can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). To be a servant of righteousness one must obey all of God’s commands; to live in sin is to obey the evil one. Jesus points out that only two roads are open to us and that we must make a choice. Are you among the wise or the foolish? Are you in the church or in the world? The Lord closes the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:24-27) placing all people in one of two groups. The wise who hear and do; they will be able to stand at the judgment. The foolish also hear but fail to do; they will be lost at the judgment. All “accountable” beings are in one category or the other.

When the separation takes place at the judgement, will we be among the “sheep or the goats”? (Matthew 25:31-46) “The Bible is right!” Obey and be saved (Acts 2:36-47).