In the Beginning was Information

d) Manual of instructions for life: God has prepared the bestpurposes and greatest blessings conceivable for our earthly life. Heis concerned about our happiness in marriage, in our family, ourcareer, and our nation, and desires to bless us with success in everything,so that the words of the Psalmist are applicable: “Whatever hedoes prospers” (Psalm 1:3). God’s will for us is the best, as indicatedin uncountable ways. The upright will be prosperous (Proverbs 2:7),those who hope in Him will be strengthened (Isaiah 40:31), and allwho are weary and burdened will find rest (Matthew 11:28). Thereis only one answer to the question why God does this, namely“I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).A machine will not operate properly in the fashion envisaged bythe inventor, unless the instruction manual is obeyed. How muchmore then do our lives become a mess when we disregard theinstructions for our life as provided by the Creator? This type ofinformation can be regarded as operational information, as discussedin Chapter 7. The Bible is the only instruction manual for ablessed and full life; the condition is briefly and simply formulated:“By living according to your Word” (Psalm 119:9).e) Signpost pointing to heaven: The highest purpose ever formulatedis that God desires eternal communion with each one of us.Earthly blessings are only a minute foretaste compared to the richnessof eternity. We are invited to enter heaven. The suffering anddeath of Jesus was the price paid for sin, so that we will not be lost.When Jesus rose up from the grave, this sacrifice was honoured byGod. Now anybody can get into the lifeboat which will reach theother coast, because God does not want sinners to be lost, “butrather that they turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel 33:11).God sent the Lord Jesus “as a sacrifice of atonement, through faithin his blood” (Romans 3:25). Everyone who calls on his Name(Romans 10:13) and who receives Him (John 1:12), has crossedover from the death penalty of sin, to eternal life (John 5:24). Theway to heaven is just as simple as it is sure: The Bible is the onlycompass, and Jesus is the only Way. Anybody who turns to Jesus, issaved. He then becomes a child of God and at the same time heir toheaven (Titus 3:7). This decision cannot be postponed. Bezzel oncesaid: “The pardoning power of grace is unlimited, but it stilldepends on the moment.”149