There is no book like the Bible. That is because God is the author. He inspired men to write the sacred text of scripture as is explained in II Tim 3:16. It is a living book. [Heb 4:12] God reveals Himself in the Bible. The truths in it are timeless.
Here are some interesting facts about the Bible. Yearly 100 million Bibles are sold or given away. Let that sink in. 100 million. No New York Times bestselling titles even comes close. One of the best sellers for 2024 sold a mere 120,000 copies.
The Bible has been translated into 3,000 languages. Think of all the people from all the different cultures who can read about God and the Savior Jesus Christ in their own language. Consider the multitudes that have come to salvation. Think of the numbers who find strength in persecution and afflictions. Can any other book be located that has been translated into 3,000 languages. I don't think so.
The average American household has four Bibles. I counted my personal copies of God's word and estimate I have 14 different Bibles. Some are worn from preaching and teaching with certain sections becoming unstitched. I have replaced covers on two of them. My favorite preaching Bible had to be retired several years ago from every week use. I have met with God in the pages of those Bibles over the past four decades.
In a surprising statistic, the Bible is the number one shoplifted book in the world. I think I know why. Desperate people steal a copy hoping to find help in the pages. I am sure if those same people just took the time to ask churches, a Bible would be given so they did not have to steal one. The Bible is a highly desirable book. Yet how many Christians have ones that does not get used.
The Gideons estimate they have around 700,000 Bibles in hotels. Only God knows how many people have read those Bibles and found comfort, guidance, and some even salvation. What a tremendous ministry.
One last fact. Every single second. Consider the brevity of a second. Snap your fingers. That is a second. Every second a Bible is sold or given away somewhere in the world. There are 86,400 seconds in a day. That means 86,400 Bibles are sold are given away. That is astounding.
If my house were to catch on fire and I had my family safely secured outside, the next thing I would grab is my Bible. It is that precious to me.
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