Parchments, Books & Coat

By Gillis Killam –

We are downsizing and there will not be enough room for my large library in our new home. I know how I feel about my books. They are like old friends to me and I don`t like the thought of parting with them. I want them to go to a place where they will be read and valued by someone.

The Apostle Paul was in a Roman prison awaiting execution when he wrote his last letter to his prodigy, Timothy. Paul’s words to Timothy resonate with me, “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:13 NIV). These are what he missed most.

Think of the changes in the way books are published, and how we acquire them today in comparison to Paul’s time. Books and letters that were written on parchments by hand are now downloaded as digital books and manuscripts on line. The idea that entire books and volumes can be transferred through the atmosphere in a few seconds, to a device that can hold thousands of books would have blown Paul’s mind.

Books were God’s plan to record the way the world was created; and the origin of man. He also chose the written word to have a permanent record of how He sent His Son into the world to save mankind from its sin. God used terms and methods that we can understand. In his vision the apostle John saw God open the Book of Life at the final judgment.

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books”
(Revelation 20:11-12 NIV).

Prayer: Thank you, Lord. Because of salvation through Jesus Christ my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. AMEN