100:00:00,740 –> 00:00:09,320Our first instinct when it comes to God is to think of doing a deal and here’s200:00:09,320 –> 00:00:17,719what it often sounds like. Lord if I give you my life, I mean if I pray… if I300:00:17,719 –> 00:00:24,440live well in a good way… if I pay a price even for doing what is right… then400:00:24,440 –> 00:00:27,799you’ll save me, you’ll get me into heaven right?500:00:27,799 –> 00:00:29,080Welcome to Open the Bible with600:00:29,120 –> 00:00:33,520Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. I’m glad you could be with us today. Colin,700:00:33,520 –> 00:00:38,599today we’re continuing the message, how can I be sure of heaven? And last time we800:00:38,599 –> 00:00:43,540met the thief on the cross and he was definitely not in a position to make any900:00:43,540 –> 00:00:48,880kind of deal with God. Yeah that’s right I think that’s exactly why his story is1000:00:48,880 –> 00:00:52,660such a clear presentation of the truth of the gospel. What does he have to offer1100:00:52,660 –> 00:00:58,680for Jesus? Nothing he can only ask he turns in repentance and then he asks of1200:00:58,680 –> 00:01:04,639the Savior will you remember me and he’s met with the amazing and lavish grace of1300:01:04,639 –> 00:01:08,519the Lord Jesus Christ. So this gets us to the heart of the gospel there’s hope1400:01:08,519 –> 00:01:14,779for the person who is furthest away from God in this message today and it’s a1500:01:14,779 –> 00:01:20,199marvellous story. It’s a story we pick up in Luke 23 so join us there if you can1600:01:20,440 –> 00:01:24,940as we continue the message How can I be sure of heaven? Here is pastor Colin1700:01:24,940 –> 00:01:29,559How can I be sure of heaven. First part of the answer and it’s one answer in1800:01:29,559 –> 00:01:38,459three words. Part one turn. Fear God. Submit yourself to King Jesus. Let his1900:01:38,459 –> 00:01:44,500way become the way for you. Let his truth become the truth for you. Let his life2000:01:44,519 –> 00:01:55,540become the life for you and to the person who turns to Jesus he says you2100:01:55,540 –> 00:02:10,199will be with me in paradise that’s what he says. Second part of the answer, ask2200:02:10,240 –> 00:02:19,279this is so obviously at the heart of what the thief is doing here Jesus, verse 422300:02:19,279 –> 00:02:32,380remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus you’re the king clearly2400:02:32,380 –> 00:02:38,360your kingdom is not going to be in this world but beyond death I believe that2500:02:38,360 –> 00:02:46,259you are coming into a kingdom and when you do please remember me the thief2600:02:46,259 –> 00:02:56,940asked Jesus and to the person who asks Jesus says you will be with me in2700:02:56,940 –> 00:03:04,440paradise two observations about asking the first is that asking it means that2800:03:04,600 –> 00:03:10,759don’t pretend to be righteous now you have this in verse 41 particularly2900:03:10,759 –> 00:03:17,580where the thief says to his colleague on the other side of Jesus we are receiving3000:03:17,580 –> 00:03:26,660the jewel award for our deeds this is very important the thief does3100:03:26,660 –> 00:03:33,860not pretend to be a good person and it’s amazing how strong that instinct is in3200:03:33,860 –> 00:03:38,899all of us by nature he’s not hanging on the cross and saying to Jesus well I3300:03:38,899 –> 00:03:43,339know this looks bad but you know I’m really rather good at heart you’re not3400:03:43,339 –> 00:03:49,199doing that kind of a thing he’s not saying even you know I recognize I’ve3500:03:49,199 –> 00:03:54,779done some bad stuff really bad stuff in my life but you know Jesus I do want you3600:03:54,779 –> 00:04:00,520to know that I’ve done some good things to commend me as well and so please when3700:04:00,559 –> 00:04:03,720you get into your kingdom would you remember the good that I’ve done and3800:04:03,720 –> 00:04:11,960and overlook the rest no there’s none of that no pretending to be a righteous3900:04:11,960 –> 00:04:19,440this man comes to Jesus with absolute honesty and with absolute humility he4000:04:19,440 –> 00:04:26,739faces the fact that he is a sinner period that he ascended against God that4100:04:27,239 –> 00:04:35,140against his fellow man and we are liking we have failed to do what God has called4200:04:35,140 –> 00:04:41,079us to do and we have done that which God has told us not to do and this is4300:04:41,079 –> 00:04:48,279precisely why Jesus was there on the cross the thief had no ability to4400:04:48,279 –> 00:04:52,440deliver himself from the cross but always remember that Jesus did he could4500:04:53,059 –> 00:04:58,059an army of angels at any moment and he did not do that why why did he stay on4600:04:58,059 –> 00:05:01,959the cross why did he go there in the first place why did he endure all of4700:05:01,959 –> 00:05:08,980this answer he did this in order to be the sacrifice and the substitute for4800:05:08,980 –> 00:05:14,980sinners that’s why he was there on the cross that’s why he’s the one who is4900:05:15,000 –> 00:05:22,059able to open the door of heaven for those who do not deserve it which5000:05:22,059 –> 00:05:28,779include me and you and everyone else all have sinned and fall short of the glory5100:05:28,779 –> 00:05:34,739of God and asking means a second thing and this is important to that asking5200:05:34,739 –> 00:05:41,019means that you don’t try to make a deal asking means that you don’t try to make5300:05:41,380 –> 00:05:48,519a deal now I think most of us are fairly similar on this we don’t really like to5400:05:48,519 –> 00:05:54,220ask we don’t like to be empty-handed we like to be able to contribute we like to5500:05:54,220 –> 00:06:00,480be able to offer and so we prefer to do deals and this is of course how the5600:06:00,480 –> 00:06:05,739world works look here’s something that I can do for you I would like to do this5700:06:05,779 –> 00:06:11,720for you here’s something I would like you to do for me and of course if you5800:06:11,720 –> 00:06:17,440are in sales if you are a negotiator if you’re in the business of doing deals in5900:06:17,440 –> 00:06:21,720any sphere of life you know that after you found out what6000:06:21,720 –> 00:06:26,220the other party is really looking for you will lead with what you can do for6100:06:26,220 –> 00:06:30,119them you don’t lead with what you’re asking for in return you lead with what6200:06:30,200 –> 00:06:37,720can do for them. It’s how you do it everyday and then you hope by6300:06:37,720 –> 00:06:41,500sufficiently stressing the value of what you can do for them that you will be6400:06:41,500 –> 00:06:47,920able to close the deal and that what you seek in return will come as a result of6500:06:47,920 –> 00:06:53,540shaking hands on the deal and one thing you never want to do if you’re a6600:06:53,540 –> 00:06:59,399negotiator you never want to go into a negotiation empty-handed. Every6700:06:59,440 –> 00:07:02,660negotiator knows that. Gotta have something in your pocket gotta have6800:07:02,660 –> 00:07:07,140something to put on the table gotta have something to offer. That’s how the world6900:07:07,140 –> 00:07:18,119works. We do deals. But what I want you to notice in this story is that the thief7000:07:18,119 –> 00:07:28,059is completely empty-handed. What can he offer? All that he can do is come to7100:07:28,359 –> 00:07:37,559Jesus like a beggar and ask. And you see that is so important because our first7200:07:37,559 –> 00:07:40,779instinct just because of the world in which we live and the way in which we7300:07:40,779 –> 00:07:46,440are our first instinct when it comes to God is to think of doing a deal. And7400:07:46,440 –> 00:07:55,920here’s what it often sounds like. Lord if I give you my life I mean if I pray if I7500:07:56,040 –> 00:08:03,160live well in a good way if I pay a price even for doing what is right then you’ll7600:08:03,160 –> 00:08:07,959save me. You get me into Heaven right? Right? Right?7700:08:07,959 –> 00:08:14,859Here’s what happens if you come to God that way. Two things. The first is that7800:08:14,859 –> 00:08:20,440you will go through your entire life feeling that God owes you and you will7900:08:20,440 –> 00:08:24,359constantly encounter a feeling of disappointment with him. You will always8000:08:24,359 –> 00:08:29,920be feeling that he’s not quite keeping up with his side of the quote deal. And8100:08:29,920 –> 00:08:35,799second, and this is much worse, you go through life in an illusion8200:08:35,799 –> 00:08:43,780because you don’t have a deal. Because God never signs deals that are written by8300:08:43,780 –> 00:08:49,520others. The only covenant God ever signs is the covenant that he has written8400:08:49,820 –> 00:08:56,900himself. And friends I’ve heard too often guys, and I’ve got to say it’s often8500:08:56,900 –> 00:09:03,640guys, who will somewhat bumptiously say, oh Pastor, I’ve done a deal with God! And8600:09:03,640 –> 00:09:10,679I wince every time I hear that phrase. Not only because it sounds so painfully8700:09:10,679 –> 00:09:15,739arrogant, but because the person who imagines that he has done a deal with8800:09:15,780 –> 00:09:22,359God, is living in an illusion thinking he has a deal that God has never signed,8900:09:22,359 –> 00:09:31,479never signed. Asking, that’s the way, and asking means that you come to Jesus9000:09:31,479 –> 00:09:36,440Christ empty-handed, knowing that there is nothing that you can offer to him as9100:09:36,440 –> 00:09:44,479an inducement or as a claim. All you can do is cast yourself upon his mercy and9200:09:44,479 –> 00:09:54,359ask. But when you come in that way if you will come in that way today with9300:09:54,359 –> 00:10:01,719empty hands Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom to such a person9400:10:01,719 –> 00:10:08,760who turns and asks, no deals, just casting yourself upon the mercy of God and9500:10:08,840 –> 00:10:23,039asking Jesus to such a person Jesus says you will be with me in paradise.9600:10:23,039 –> 00:10:27,440You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called How Can I Be Sure of9700:10:27,440 –> 00:10:33,159Heaven, and we’ve heard how it begins by turning to Jesus and then by asking of9800:10:33,159 –> 00:10:37,520Jesus and when we come back in a moment we’ll hear what it means to trust in9900:10:37,520 –> 00:10:41,919Jesus.But if you have to leave before the end of the program don’t forget you can10000:10:41,919 –> 00:10:46,179always catch up or go back and listen again by coming online to our website10100:10:46,179 –> 00:10:52,219openthebible.org.uk or by finding us as a podcast on all the main podcast10200:10:52,219 –> 00:10:58,580sites. Search for Open the Bible UK or follow the link from our website. Back to10300:10:58,580 –> 00:11:02,880the message now here again is Pastor Colin. How can I be sure of heaven10400:11:03,020 –> 00:11:15,979One answer, three words. Turn. Ask. And the third word is trust. Trust. The thief10500:11:15,979 –> 00:11:25,440puts himself and his whole future into the hands of Jesus Christ. I was trying10600:11:25,440 –> 00:11:31,840to think about an analogy as to what this is and think about this just for a10700:11:31,840 –> 00:11:37,599moment with me, suppose you have a serious heart condition and you have to10800:11:37,599 –> 00:11:41,559have open heart surgery. There may be someone in the congregation who’s in10900:11:41,559 –> 00:11:46,200exactly that position but let’s all of us imagine ourselves in that position11000:11:46,200 –> 00:11:57,039and you, you go to the cardiologist and you ask him what he will do and he says11100:11:57,039 –> 00:12:00,340well first thing is that I’m going to knock you out completely, you don’t want to do11200:12:00,359 –> 00:12:05,719anything about it, you’d be completely unconscious, then when you are completely11300:12:05,719 –> 00:12:08,940unconscious and incapable of doing anything about it I’m gonna take a11400:12:08,940 –> 00:12:14,460scalp and I’m gonna cut you open and then he goes on in excruciating detail11500:12:14,460 –> 00:12:18,299to tell you everything that he’s gonna do and then he says here’s the papers11600:12:18,299 –> 00:12:25,580sign them and folks actually sign these papers, they give permission for this11700:12:26,039 –> 00:12:35,099extraordinary invasion why? Why? Because the cardiologist will do something for11800:12:35,099 –> 00:12:42,900the person that they cannot possibly do for themselves and if this radical11900:12:42,900 –> 00:12:47,880surgery is not done there will be no other hope for the person so they place12000:12:47,880 –> 00:12:56,640themselves, give themselves, sign themselves away into the hands of the12100:12:56,640 –> 00:13:02,640cardiologist. Now just think about that, the thief trusts himself and his12200:13:02,640 –> 00:13:11,200eternity into the hands of Jesus Christ. To put myself into your hands and Jesus12300:13:11,460 –> 00:13:16,460gives to him this marvelous promise. Truly I say to you today you will be12400:13:16,460 –> 00:13:24,780with me in paradise. This is the promise of the Savior to whom this man has12500:13:24,780 –> 00:13:31,880turned, of whom this man has asked, and in whom this man now trusts.12600:13:31,880 –> 00:13:36,520Now I don’t want you to miss this that the thief was in exactly the same12700:13:36,640 –> 00:13:42,219position as we are in today in this regard because you see if you turn to12800:13:42,219 –> 00:13:50,099Jesus and if you ask of Jesus what do you actually have? And the answer is when12900:13:50,099 –> 00:13:55,940you turn to Jesus and you ask of Jesus what you have is his word, you have his13000:13:55,940 –> 00:14:01,619promise. The promise of this One in whom you have put your trust! That’s what the13100:14:02,219 –> 00:14:09,799promise. Today you will bought with me in paradise! And the one who trusts in13200:14:09,799 –> 00:14:16,840Jesus is the one who rests in his word and stands on his promise he has said if13300:14:16,840 –> 00:14:22,320anyone comes whoever comes to me I will never cast away. So here you are you13400:14:22,320 –> 00:14:27,440come to him and you ask of him you turning to him and he says I will never13500:14:27,559 –> 00:14:32,640drive such a person away you take that word you trust it you rest in it to the13600:14:32,640 –> 00:14:37,940person who turns and to the person who asked Jesus says you will be with me in13700:14:37,940 –> 00:14:42,400paradise and what is a Christian believer do? You trust in this promise13800:14:42,400 –> 00:14:53,140you find rest in this word. And that was what the thief did over these next hours13900:14:53,739 –> 00:14:58,559and for most of us the period between trusting in Jesus and the period where14000:14:58,559 –> 00:15:03,119we actually go into the presence of Jesus is gonna be much longer. But it’s14100:15:03,119 –> 00:15:09,179fascinating to me that even within the few hours in which the thief was one who14200:15:09,179 –> 00:15:16,659turned asked and trusted in Jesus he already experienced what it is to be a14300:15:17,659 –> 00:15:24,760trusts Jesus. And remember what it was like the very next verse verse 44 tells14400:15:24,760 –> 00:15:29,200us immediately after the thief had trusted himself to Jesus in this way14500:15:29,200 –> 00:15:33,919what happens, verse 44, it was around the sixth hour and there was darkness over14600:15:33,919 –> 00:15:37,799the whole land until the ninth hour, the middle of the day and suddenly God turns14700:15:37,799 –> 00:15:45,460out the light. And the thief had to trust the promise of Jesus when he was14800:15:45,539 –> 00:15:53,960surrounded by great darkness, and Matthew and Mark record that in that darkness14900:15:53,960 –> 00:16:01,140Jesus cried out, my God, my God why have you forsaken me? And here’s the15000:16:01,140 –> 00:16:05,719thief and he’s faced with something he cannot possibly understand at that15100:16:05,719 –> 00:16:13,400moment and I’m saying to you that there will be times in your life as a person15200:16:13,539 –> 00:16:17,739trusts in Jesus, there are times in my life as a person who trusts in Jesus when15300:16:17,739 –> 00:16:22,059we will find ourselves in great darkness, with an unanswered why and15400:16:22,059 –> 00:16:31,940circumstances we cannot possibly explain and what do you do then? You trust Jesus15500:16:31,940 –> 00:16:37,940in the darkness just as you trusted him in the light, you rest in his promise and15600:16:37,940 –> 00:16:42,400cling to his promise in the darkness just as you rested in15700:16:42,619 –> 00:16:47,440and clung to his promise in the light. That’s what the thief had to do and then15800:16:47,440 –> 00:16:53,320not only will there be experiences for the Christian of trusting in the15900:16:53,320 –> 00:17:00,559darkness there’ll be experiences of trusting in great pain. Think about this16000:17:00,559 –> 00:17:07,680the agony of crucifixion increased over time as the wounds in the hands and the16100:17:07,680 –> 00:17:14,339feet widened and as fever raged in the body the thing got progressively worse16200:17:14,339 –> 00:17:21,160and worse and worse by the hour what that means is that the thief16300:17:21,160 –> 00:17:31,199experienced more pain in his body after he trusted Jesus even than he did before16400:17:31,640 –> 00:17:38,520So please understand this, that trusting Jesus is never a passport to a pain-free16500:17:38,520 –> 00:17:45,040life and anyone who has the idea that if you know if I just trust in Jesus turn16600:17:45,040 –> 00:17:47,599to him ask him and trust him that somehow there won’t be any more16700:17:47,599 –> 00:17:52,459darkness in my life and somehow I won’t have terribly painful experiences of16800:17:52,459 –> 00:17:57,760whatever sort I mean that person has simply not taken seriously what we’re16900:17:57,760 –> 00:18:05,280learning from the Bible here that the person who will enter the joy of the17000:18:05,280 –> 00:18:09,900presence of the Lord is the one who trusts him and that the journey of a17100:18:09,900 –> 00:18:15,000Christian in this world includes times when we trust him in the darkness of17200:18:15,000 –> 00:18:22,180things we cannot understand the unexplained why of our life and that we17300:18:22,180 –> 00:18:30,000trust him sometimes in periods of great pain of whatever sort and then there17400:18:30,000 –> 00:18:37,900will come a moment where we trust him in death itself of course we’re not told in17500:18:37,900 –> 00:18:42,420the Bible about the moment when the thief died because of course all the17600:18:42,420 –> 00:18:49,520attention is on the death of our Lord Jesus Christ but that if had to trust17700:18:49,520 –> 00:18:54,780Jesus not only in darkness not only in pain but he had to trust Jesus in death17800:18:54,780 –> 00:19:01,319itself when the moment came some years ago17900:19:01,319 –> 00:19:09,599Karn and I had the privilege of hosting Joseph tawn in our home in London Joseph18000:19:09,599 –> 00:19:14,719was a distinguished pastor is a distinguished pastor and leader from the18100:19:14,800 –> 00:19:21,959Romania and I learned a very great deal from him in these few days that I had18200:19:21,959 –> 00:19:27,459the privilege we had the privilege of hosting him and among the many stories18300:19:27,459 –> 00:19:34,800that he told many of which stick in my mind years later he told me about a18400:19:34,800 –> 00:19:40,280visit that he had made to a fellow pastor in Romania a man who had really18500:19:40,280 –> 00:19:44,000served the Lord well and extended himself under very difficult18600:19:44,000 –> 00:19:50,199circumstances during the communist time in that country the pastor was18700:19:50,199 –> 00:19:56,760seriously ill and did not have long left to live and Joseph as a senior Christian18800:19:56,760 –> 00:20:03,619leader went to this brother and friend who was in another town and Joseph was a18900:20:03,619 –> 00:20:10,140man who liked to get to the point and so as he told the story to me he came into19000:20:10,140 –> 00:20:16,280the bedside of this brother pastor and said to him brother I have come here19100:20:16,280 –> 00:20:21,640today to tell you how to die that’s getting to the point I suppose and then19200:20:21,640 –> 00:20:29,359he says this forget all about your Christian life forget all about your19300:20:29,359 –> 00:20:36,839Christian life marvelous council because if you lie there on your bed in that19400:20:37,160 –> 00:20:42,540thinking about what you have done for Jesus it will not be long before you19500:20:42,540 –> 00:20:47,900begin to see what you have not done for Jesus what you might have done for Jesus19600:20:47,900 –> 00:20:52,800what could have been done better for Jesus and the more your mind goes down19700:20:52,800 –> 00:20:56,859that way the more you will be surrounded by doubt and you will be surrounded by19800:20:56,859 –> 00:21:06,760fear so pastor tun said to his friend I have come to tell you how to die19900:21:06,880 –> 00:21:14,000forget about your Christian life forget about what you have done for Jesus and20000:21:14,000 –> 00:21:22,119fix your eyes wholly on what Jesus has done for you and I’ll never forget20100:21:22,119 –> 00:21:28,640Joseph saying you know Colin that’s the way to die and that’s the way to20200:21:29,599 –> 00:21:39,300love them that’s the way to die and that’s the way to live see our work for20300:21:39,300 –> 00:21:43,420Christ is never done it’s never finished never what it might be never complete20400:21:43,420 –> 00:21:50,439never pure gold but Jesus is the one whose work for us is finished20500:21:50,439 –> 00:21:55,000accomplish that’s why he says on the cross it is finished it’s complete you20600:21:55,000 –> 00:22:06,000can rest wholly in this turn ask trust that is what the thief did20700:22:06,000 –> 00:22:11,660and to the person who turns to Jesus asks of Jesus and trusts in Jesus Jesus20800:22:11,660 –> 00:22:17,959says you will be with me in paradise20900:22:18,979 –> 00:22:23,319Dr. Collain Smith on Open the Bible confirming that there’s never a better21000:22:23,439 –> 00:22:29,439time to turn ask and trust in Jesus than today you’ve been listening to Open the21100:22:29,439 –> 00:22:34,719Bible with Pastor Collin Smith. Open the Bible is supported by our listeners and21200:22:34,739 –> 00:22:39,800we’re extremely grateful for the support you give us. This month if you’re able to21300:22:39,800 –> 00:22:45,000begin a new direct debit in the amount of five pounds per month or more or a21400:22:45,000 –> 00:22:49,640one-off gift of fifty pounds or more we’d love to say a big thank you by21500:22:49,900 –> 00:22:55,660sending you our Easter giveaway bundle. The bundle consists of two copies of the21600:22:55,660 –> 00:22:58,979brand-new graphic novel version of Heaven How I Got Here21700:22:58,979 –> 00:23:04,839the story of the Thief on the Cross plus an NIV outreach edition of the Bible.21800:23:04,839 –> 00:23:09,839These are ideal to give away to friends and family this Easter.21900:23:10,079 –> 00:23:14,040How does this graphic novel speak to young people today?22000:23:14,040 –> 00:23:20,359Well if you’re a young person and especially if you have grown up in church, you probably22100:23:20,359 –> 00:23:27,520find yourself asking the question, am I living a good enough life? Am I living a life that’s22200:23:27,520 –> 00:23:32,939really going to be pleasing to God? And you maybe have it in your mind the idea that pleasing22300:23:32,939 –> 00:23:36,780God’s going to be a very, very hard thing to do.22400:23:36,800 –> 00:23:44,380And here’s the marvelous good news, entrance into Heaven and peace with God don’t depend22500:23:44,380 –> 00:23:50,839on you living a good enough Christian life. It’s the gift of God’s marvelous grace and22600:23:50,839 –> 00:23:56,060that is made wonderfully clear in the story of the thief on the cross. And this graphic22700:23:56,060 –> 00:24:02,359novel tells that story in a way that’s clear, simple and compelling. And it communicates22800:24:02,500 –> 00:24:09,619the greatest good news ever. That God’s marvelous grace comes to us in Jesus Christ. He’s the22900:24:09,619 –> 00:24:14,619one that gives us peace with God. He’s the one who opens the door of Heaven. There is23000:24:14,619 –> 00:24:22,180hope for every person in Jesus Christ. And especially for the person saying I haven’t23100:24:22,180 –> 00:24:27,859lived a good enough life. I feel very very far from God. That’s the message and I hope23200:24:27,859 –> 00:24:32,439that it’s going to be very encouraging to every young person, to everyone who’s a visual23300:24:32,439 –> 00:24:37,160learner and to everyone who needs to understand God’s marvelous grace.23400:24:37,160 –> 00:24:42,839Well Our Easter Giveaway Bundle is our gift to you when you begin a New Direct Debit of23500:24:42,839 –> 00:24:48,900five pounds per month or more, or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this calendar month.23600:24:48,900 –> 00:24:56,359Full terms and conditions and to give online come to our website at OpenTheBible.org.uk23700:24:56,420 –> 00:25:01,180And don’t forget, if you do give online, do leave your full name and address so we can23800:25:01,180 –> 00:25:04,219send you our Easter Giveaway Bundle.23900:25:04,219 –> 00:25:09,040For Pastor Colin Smyth and OpenTheBible, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again24000:25:09,040 –> 00:25:19,260next time on Open The Bible.24100:25:19,640 –> 00:25:23,640IF YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN, WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU DIE?24200:25:23,640 –> 00:25:25,560Find out next time on Open The Bible.