17 Bibles

I have 17 Bibles sitting on my shelf.

They are all different kinds.

Greek, Greek-English, Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, Archaeology and History Bibles, Coloring Bibles…etc.

I have 17 Bibles sitting on my shelf.

I can pull out any one of them, go wherever I please, and read it without fear.

Oh sure, maybe I’ll get an awkward glance, or mean stare.

But I’m safe.

I’m free to commune with my God in my home, in public, and with others with little fear, and little backlash.

I have 17 Bibles sitting on my shelf.

On the other side of our globe, lies a country that has been abandoned and left to wolves.

Afghanistan.

I have 17 Bibles sitting on my shelf.

There are Afghani people living their lives in secret as Christians, who would gladly give their lives for just one Bible.

They would give their lives for half of a Bible.

They would give their lives for one page out of a Bible.

And if a family somehow got that one Bible, or half a Bible, or one page from a Bible, and it was discovered by the Taliban that they had it….It would be immediate execution.

I have 17 Bibles sitting on my shelf.

The Taliban is going door to door murdering families no matter their religion.

And here I sit….with the freedom to change my beliefs every week if I wanted to.

And there they sit. Secret Christians in Afghanistan. Protecting their one Bible, or half a Bible, or one page from a Bible.

Memorizing it. Guarding it. Treasuring every Word.

I have 17 Bibles sitting on my shelf.

And I am ashamed for the way I take my freedom for granted.