Introduction

the story is told that many years ago, Art Linkletter saw a small boy scrawling wildly on a sheet of paper. “What are you drawing?” Linkletter asked.

“I’m drawing a picture of God.”

“You can’t do that, because nobody knows what God looks like.”

“They will when I’m finished,” the boy confidently replied.

As senseless as this story is, many of us have based our life beliefs on foundations no more solid than the young boy’s drawing. It is no surprise that life’s difficulties expose the lack of meaning in our lives and the inadequacy of our sources for answers to the questions of our hearts.

Let’s face it, we all have questions in life. When you lay your head down on the pillow at night, what are the questions that you ask? When you’re alone in the dark, do you find life’s really hard questions running through your mind? How can I find peace and true contentment? What is the purpose of life? Why am I here? Where have I come from, and where am I going? Is there a God, and if so, what is he like? Can I know God personally? Is there a source of ultimate truth for me to live by?

Many of those questions relate to our faith and our own search for truth. For instance, who has not asked the question, “Why does God allow unthinkable acts of terrorism?” Or, “When my world seems to be falling apart around me, who can I trust?” Or, “What do I do with my fears?” So where do we find the answers? Must we end our days with the same questions staring us in the face? Can our questions be answered, and can we find the peace we are seeking?

We answer that with a resounding “Yes!” In your hands you hold what reveals the real answers—God’s Word. The Bible is the most important book and the single most popular book ever written. Within its pages God speaks with divine instruction to multiple generations of people who faced the same life issues and questions that you face today. He reveals himself through his Word and presents the absolute truth that provides the only reliable answers to all of life’s ultimate questions. It dares tackle those questions honestly and openly and offers counsel for our problems, comfort for our sorrows, guidance for our confusion, inspiration for our needs, and hope for our despair.

What Is the Bible About?

The Bible cannot be considered just a “crutch” that you can turn to when the pressures of life overwhelm you. It is a supernatural book that has survivied and thrived through centuries of being scoffed at, ridiculed, and banned. Kings have branded it as illegal, and countless lives have been martyred because they had the courage to stand by its truths. For the millions and millions of people who have tested its answers to life’s questions and found them true, there is only one conclusion—the Bible is God’s book. Every word is inspired by him and reveals something very important about him. From these pages we hear the voice of God.

In reality, the bible is a library of books. It contains sixty-six different books, which together tell the story of God’s wonderful love for people. It teaches us how to live the way God wants us to live. The Bible reveals the truth about God, explains the origin of humankind, offers the only way to salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christ, and does not sidestep the ancient problem of sin and suffering. It’s a book you’ll want to read and study over and over again.

Who is the Bible for? Most of the books in the Old Testament were written for the Jewish people (also called Israelites). They were the nation God chose to be a part of bringing his Son into the world. Books in the New Testament were written to many others. Sometimes the names of the books give you a clue. For instance, Paul wrote Romans to the Christians who lived in Rome. Other New Testament books were addressed to all of Christ’s followers. These books were passed around from church to church for everyone to read and hear.

But wait! The Bible was written for you, too. Just as it told the Christians in the first century how to live for God, it tells the same to you. God’s Word, the Bible, is a personal guide for everyone who wants to follow God. It’s God’s love letter just for you.

So Why the NCV?

The New Century Version is one of the easiest translations of the Bible to understand. It accurately communicates the messages found in the original languages of biblical manuscripts, using the kind of terms you use every day. It uses contemporary phrases, word pictures, and expressions, and replaces vague and overly religious language with down-to-earth vocabulary. The end result is a fresh, straightforward, and strong translation of God’s truth; and it is something you can connect with in your daily life. You’ll find it easier to experience God’s Word as it truly is—absolutely clear, powerfully alive, and completely life-changing.

This may be the greatest opportunity you will ever find to read and understand the Bible and to come to a personal understanding of God’s plan for your life. The Bible, it should be remembered, is not an end in itself, but it is a means to the end of knowing God and doing his will on earth. Through his Word we hear his voice and come to understand his mind.

So we challenge you to read the NCV. Anyone who will take the time can see and understand what God has given us in his Word and how it applies to us today. It may be the most important and life-changing step you will ever take.