Yesterday, at both our morning worship services and the evening seminar, legendary basketball player, Jerry Lucas, reminded us that the key to learning is to simply use a gift that God has already given us, the gift of being able to use tangible mental images to help us remember things.Using images as a tool for learning and remembering information is why I'm glad that most of the bible is in a narrative (story) form. Think of how many times Jesus used stories, parables, numerical associations, or simply pointed to everyday objects to convey spiritual truths.
A lost coin, a farmer sowing seeds, a loaf of bread, a wasteful son and a welcoming father, lilies of the field, a house built on sand, a garbage dump, a widow pleading with a judge, a father giving his son a snake, stars falling from the sky, a stone rolled from a tomb, a towel and basin, a banquet, twelve disciples/twelve tribes of Israel, keys, a camel fitting through the eye of a needle, etc.
In a visually oriented ancient world context, the bible uses the medium of pictures/stories to communicate the story of God's love for the world.
Periodically, I'll hear someone say that they wish the bible was more straightforward, meaning that instead of stories and word pictures, that it would read more like an encyclopedia. While encyclopedias are helpful resources for further research and study, the use of stories and words pictures are more reflective of our everyday world.
The church has continued the use of this biblical medium in helping Christians to grow in their faith through the use of symbols, stained glass windows (especially during eras of high illiteracy,) art, video, and drama.
As you read the scriptures this week, keep in mind the symbols, word pictures, and stories that can help you remember the spiritual truth God is conveying.
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