Gary Varvel: The Secret to Success

A devotional: Proof that the Bible is true

Jan 08, 2024

DEVOTIONAL

Do you know the secret to success? The Bible gives us the answer.

Context: Joshua was about to lead the nation of Israel into the promised land. After God miraculously rescued the Israelites from Egypt through the Red Sea, they grumbled, complained and didn’t believe God could defeat their enemies, so they had to live in the desert for 40 years while a whole generation died off.

But now, is their time to move. Joshua gives the people some final instructions and he says:

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” - Joshua 1:8 (NLT)

Knowing God’s word is the secret to success. Look at this verse again — If you do the 3 things in this verse, you will “prosper and succeed in all you do.” What are they?

Study the Bible. (devote time, attention, research, analysis and talk about it)
Meditate on what you read in the Bible. (think about it, memorize it, apply it to your life)
Do what it says.

This sounds too simple but it actually takes time, devotion and discipline. Trust me, it’s worth more than silver and gold. In studying the Bible, you’ll develop a relationship with its Author — God. And the more you know about God, the more you’ll learn how He loves you and you’ll begin to love and trust Him as your heavenly Father.

You’ll also discover that He has a plan for your life.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” - Ephesians 2:10

As an artist, I like the word ‘masterpiece’ in this translation. God sees you as His masterpiece. If lost people would seek Jesus, they would find their true identity in Him instead of the temporal things in this world.

Successful people: Oh sure, you and I know lots of successful people who have never opened a Bible. But how successful will they be in one hundred years? Remember, there is nothing lost people have that death won’t take away. Steve Jobs was a Buddhist who changed the world with his inventions and he received fame and fortune but he left it all behind when he died.

You see, without a relationship with Jesus Christ, you lose everything.

Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” - Mark 8:36

Good question. But if you know Jesus Christ, you won’t lose your soul because you have the gift of eternal life.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21

How do you store up treasures in heaven? By making Jesus your treasure, by committing your resources—time, talents, money and work in this world to God. For example, if you work for your employer as unto the Lord, you are doing the work of the God. And God notices even small things that you do to love Him or love people.

“If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” - Matthew 10:42

But the road to success all starts with reading and studying God’s word.

A New Year is a great time to start a new habit that will change your life for the better. I suggest you read, study, meditate then do what the Bible says.

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” - 1 Corinthians 15:58

If you have doubts about the accuracy of the Bible, check out this video below by archeologist Joel Kramer.

BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGY

VIDEO - Joel Kramer’s Expedition Bible series proves the Bible is true through archeology. In this video, Joel went to Nineveh, modern-day Mosul in Iraq, and tells the story of the archaeological discovery unearthed there which linked evidence from the dirt with the Bible's account of Hezekiah, Sennacherib, and the Assyrian conquest found in Isaiah 37.

If you are a person who needs more proof that the Bible is really the word of God, watch this video of the walls of Ninevah tell the story Isaiah recorded for us.