Understanding God’s Timeless Message in Real-Life Stories
Have you ever wondered why the Bible doesn’t always sound like God is speaking directly to everyone, everywhere, in every moment? Some might wish it did, but it turns out that God chose a different, more practical way to share His message with us.
The Bible: Real People, Real Situations
Most of the Bible wasn’t written as God speaking in the first person from the sky. Instead, He inspired real people—prophets, teachers, and leaders—to write to others facing real-life problems in their own time. Take Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, for example. Paul was truly writing to believers in the city of Corinth, dealing with the challenges of their day. We get to “listen in” on their conversations and learn from the advice and wisdom God shared with them.
Timeless Principles, Concrete Examples
God’s message is full of eternal principles, but He delivered them through stories, letters, and laws that addressed specific situations. It’s kind of like teaching someone to be safe by telling them to “build a fence around your roof”—which made sense in ancient times when people gathered on flat roofs. Today, the same principle might be, “Make sure your friend wears a seatbelt in your car.” The details change, but the heart of the message—caring for others—remains the same.
Why Culture Matters
Western culture often likes abstract ideas, but in many parts of the world, people learn best from stories and concrete examples. In fact, these cultures are often better at picking up the lessons in the Bible’s stories than those who look only for general rules. That’s why much of the Bible is made up of stories, letters, and conversations, not just lists of principles.
God Speaks Our Language
If God had just spoken in a booming, mysterious way, or revealed advanced science to ancient people, hardly anyone would have understood. Instead, God chose to work through the language and culture of the people He was speaking to—so the message would connect and make sense to them. Over the centuries, He used many cultures—from the earliest stories in the Old Testament to the diverse communities in the New Testament—to share His Word.
So when we read the Bible, it helps to remember: God’s message is for all people, in all cultures, for all time. By understanding the original stories and settings, we can see how those same truths apply to our lives today, no matter where we live or what culture we come from.
Minister A Francine Green
February 2026
afrancinegreen.com 