The Truth, Translated

I had quite an interesting night.

I often go out every week to gallivant around my typical haunts: the gym, Starbucks, and the occasional Sephora visit. I use the time alone to clear my head, figure out what to write about next, and to do an extra Bible study over coffee before I write a new piece.

But last night, I felt led to go a bit off course. Since I had already gone to the gym earlier in the morning, I decided to go to Sephora since there was a new lipstick that I had been eyeing that I wanted to try out. After I picked that up, something led me to Barnes and Noble before going to Starbucks to study and write. 

There was nothing I inherently needed to pick up from there, but I ended up finding two copies of a Bible study that intrigued me, so that my husband and I could start them together. I was super excited for it.

Before I headed to the register, I ended up making a new friend, which is super exciting. We bonded over notebooks and a shared love of the Lord. It brought me so much joy to find the potential of a real friend up here.

But that joy hitched ever-so-slightly when I walked up to the register. Surely not enough to ever sway me, but it caught me off guard.

I've checked out with this particular cashier at my B&N multiple times before, often buying some sort of Bible study, Bible, or notebook.

He's always been super kind, and never too concerned with what I'm buying. However, last night, he looked at the Bible studies I was buying with great curiosity.

The front cover says:

“A ONE-YEAR STUDY OF THE BIBLE AND HOW IT RELATES TO YOU”

https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9780764243097_the-bible-study

“The Bible Study: A One Year Study of the Bible and How It Relates to You” by Zach Windahl

https://a.co/d/08ant9iV - the Amazon link to the study for anyone interested.

He looked up at me and sort of scoffed, "How could a book that was tossed together over fifteen centuries ago relate to any of us?"

Because I LOVE any chance to talk about the Bible, I pretty much assumed he must just not know that much about it, and joyfully replied, "Oh, you'd be surprised!" with the biggest smile on my face.

Scoffing again, he laughed and said, "I sure would be surprised."

My smile faltered into an expression of momentary sadness. As someone with over seven copies of the Bible, in five different translations between them all, this hurt my heart to hear.

At this point, it finally hit me that he must already have a pretty strong opinion on the validity of the Bible and faith that I cherish so greatly. Which is totally fine. I'll never agree, but I can respect our differences, and pray that the truth will be revealed to him in good time.

But it was crazy to understand the difference between us in real time; I viewed the Bible as the true foundation and framework for my life and for all life, and he viewed it as an unreliable and unbelievable relic - nothing more than an old bundle of ink and paper.

I couldn’t grasp how the Good Book that I treasure so greatly could possibly mean so little to him.

I’m not too naive to know that skepticism exists, but to have it all casually questioned across a bookstore counter felt like a weight that I’d never experienced in such a way before.

He then proceeds to ask how any of the versions of the Bible can even be trusted since there are over 400 of them, and which one I prefer and why. 

I’d never been asked this before - and I’m surely no Biblical theology student, yet - but I quickly explained that over the years I've grown to prefer the ESV, and that choice is further solidified in the fact that my church also primarily uses that translation. This translation is particularly beloved to me, because I’ve spent so much time studying it and memorizing its verses.

At this point, he seems to clock that I'm not just a first-timer buying their very first Bible study. Then he went quiet.

I paid for my books, which he found to be quite expensive, and wished him a good rest of his night; a sentiment that he returned.

I'd like to plainly point out for the record that I do not think this man did anything wrong. I'm retelling this interaction to simply lay the foundation for the takeaway that I got from it all.

I walked away from that interaction a bit confused, honestly. I wasn't quite sure what he'd hoped that I would say. I just remember thinking:

Respectfully, sir, there's nothing you could say to make me turn away from my Father or my faith in Him.

Before I got there, I had been talking to an old, dear friend that I’d recently rekindled a connection with about my faith and testimony, reflecting on just how far that I'd come since we’d last seen each other. As a woman in general, and mostly as a believer. Much like the interaction with the cashier, it was an eye-opening conversation that I truly needed to have and hear.

Growing in faith is such a beautiful thing. Finding true security in that faith is even more precious.

Because a few years ago, I could think of a few things that did make me shy away from following God as faithfully and firmly as I do now.

I'm so grateful to be a child of God, and being able to reflect on the path I've taken to get here - even if it was highlighted by such an interesting interaction.

Being able to have access to so many translations of the Bible and having one that I'm able to read is a gift. Being able to freely worship God in the country where I live is a gift. It's all such a gift.

SALVATION IS THE GREATEST GIFT.

I pray that the cashier one day opens his heart to receive it. I pray that everyone reading this does.

I stepped away from that interaction with what may just seem like some expensive books, but to me, I was carrying a rich reminder of the lifeline of my Bible, its importance, and the faithfulness of the One who wrote it. And by extension, even my pursuit of faithfulness to Him.

I pray that I will continue to learn to step out in further boldness and truth to spread the gospel in a way that translates to people, no matter where they are in life, or how they've been impacted by the faith before.

Until then, I'll continue to walk this precious path of faithfulness, and do everything that I can to help pull others into a similar path of their own, guided by the Holy Spirit and God’s perfect word. 

Everyone deserves to know the Father in such a way, and understand the true gift that is the life, death, resurrection, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. 

Even if you don’t see it yet, that good news has a beautiful way of translating itself into different situations and people that will point you to it - even if opening up a Bible wasn’t what brought you there initially. 

It all leads back to the Living Word - Jesus.

Until next week,

— E. Byers, author of The Grassy Laine