What's in the Bag?

A young man brought his act to America’s Got Talent.  There was a table at center stage where he placed a paper bag.  Out of the bag he brought a small piano.  On the bench he plopped a bull frog.  On top of the piano he placed a fishbowl from which he scooped a chubby fish. The goldfish sat next to the bowl, tail hanging over the piano.  The frog began to play.  His keyboard mastery was amazing.  The fish began to sing!  Her range and pitch were far above average.  Within seconds 3 judges reached for the golden buzzer.  There could be no better act than this.

Suddenly the young man returned his things to the bag and retreated off stage.  Howie Mandel called him back.  “Where are you going?  You will inevitably win this competition.  A piano-playing frog and a singing fish?”

“I can’t go on.  I have not been honest.”

“What do you mean?”

“The fish doesn’t sing.  The bullfrog is a ventriloquist.”

Unfortunately, this young man didn’t really know what he had in the bag.  

I wonder if sometimes Christians treat the Bible that way. We forget what we have in the bag.  Consider these verses.

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3

God’s Word brings wisdom that leads to salvation.  There may be more dramatic ways to present the gospel but it is hearing the Word of Christ that leads to faith.

God’s Word teaches what is right, points out when we are wrong, corrects our path and trains us for future righteous living.  It’s a complete package of daily principles for life.

God’s Word equips us for every good deed.  If there is a deed worth doing, the Bible helps us do it.

Know what’s in the Bible before you start looking in other bags.