The Pony Express was an important part of early American history. It ran from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California—a distance of 1900 miles. Forty men, each riding fifty miles at a stretch, dashed along the trail using five hundred of the fastest horses available. The trip was made in ten days.
To keep the weight down, their clothing was very light, their saddles were small, and no weapons were carried. The horses wore small horseshoes or none at all. The mail pouches were flat and could not be larger than a certain size. Letters had to be written on very thin paper, because the postage was $5.00 an ounce! However, even with all these limits on weight, there was something that every rider carried with him—a full-sized Bible.
The Bible was presented to each rider when he joined the Pony Express, and he always carried it with him. Why? Because the Scriptures were regarded as “standard equipment.” God was important to the people in those frontier days. They realized the need of reading God's Holy Word every day.
We, too, like the Pony Express rider, are on our way to a destination—eternity. God has arranged that He will not leave us without a compass or a guide. He has provided us with these in His precious Word, the Bible.
Is the Bible important to you? Is it standard equipment for you every day? Do you read and study it? I hope so.
“From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
ML-06/29/2008