Which Person in the Bible Best Represents You?

The internet has a plethora of personality quizzes, such as, which Superhero are you? Which Disney Princess are you or what Pokémon are you? Which Greek god are you? Which U.S. President are you? Then there is one for those who are interested in spiritual things: which person in the Bible best represents you? By taking the quiz one will discover whether they are more like Peter or Judas, Paul or John the Baptist, Adam or Eve.

Although I did not take the quiz, after some thought I would not want to be like several Bible characters. Who would want to be the neighbor of Noah’ on the day it began to rain? No lonely man would want to be like Boaz. Before he was married, he was Ruth-less. If you are claustrophobic, being one of the twelve apostles when they were all in one accord (Acts 2:1) would not be a blessing. In fact, it sounds like one crowded Honda. Before looking at some positive role models to emulate some negative ones will be first considered.

Atheists it is said have their own holiday, April Fool’s Day. God calls atheists fools. “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good” (Psalm 14:1). Why are they fools? Because they state as a fact: “there is no God” which cannot be proven. In order to prove there is no God an atheist would have to be everywhere, because the one place he was not, God might be there. He would have to know everything, because the one thing he did not know might be God. He would have to exist at all times, because the one time he did not exist God might exist. In other words an atheist would have to be everywhere (omnipresent), know everything (omniscient), and exist at all times (eternal) in order to prove there is no God. In conclusion an atheist would have to be God in order to prove there is no God. One day in Judgment they will believe God when they meet Him on the Day of Judgment “For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God’” (Rom. 14:11).

Many atheists and agnostics are naturalist. They only believe in the here and now and are materialistic. The foolish farmer in Jesus’ parable was blessed by God with a bumper crop but could only focus on his own materialistic existence. “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20,21). Even though he had Paul the apostle to preach to him the Gospel, Felix rejected salvation. Paul, “reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you’” (Acts 24:25 ).

Not only would it be bad to be like Felix who rejected the opportunity to saved, King Agrippa II may have listened to Paul but he was not feeling persuaded. “Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian’” (Acts 26:28).

One might be flattered to be like two of the first priests to serve God, however Nadad and Abihu were fired for the job. “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” (Lev. 10:1,2). When God gives someone the Divine “pink slip,” they are truly fired. Why? Moses explained to Aaron their father, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me, I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified’ ” (Lev. 10:3).

Another servant of God, Jonah, was given a job to preach God’s message of mercy and grace to the city of Nineveh. “But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3). God sent a sea creature to swallow the prophet. It vomited him up after three days of prayer. He went and preached. Nineveh repented. Jonah was upset (Jonah 4:9–11). To be like Jonah means one would be without mercy and mad at the grace of God.

Not to leave the ladies out who would want to be like Martha who was too busy to learn at the feet of Jesus. She wanted Him to get on to her sister for not helping in the kitchen. Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41,42).

Enough of the negative characters from the Bible. There are many others to which anyone would like to be compared. Jeremiah, unlike Jonah and Martha, was dependent upon God’s directions. He said, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23).

Who would not want to be compared to a noble Berean? Paul preached at Thessalonica but was run out of town by the Jews. Yet, the people of Berea “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

To be one of those of Pentecost who were convicted by the preaching of Peter. They asked, “‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins’” (Acts 2:37b,38).

Young men would want to be like Joseph. He was tempted to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife. He had the self-control and courage to flee fornication. Joseph told Potiphar’s wife, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9).

Father’s would want to be compared to Joshua who told the Israelites “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15b).

Paul would be an excellent model for the elderly to emulate. In his final letter to Timothy just before he was beheaded by Nero, Paul wrote, “for I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

Of course, the ultimate model to mimic would be that of Jesus who was submissive to the will of God. Facing the crucifixion He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).

Take Jesus’ Gospel “quiz” and see who you will turn out to be like. Have you heard the Gospel (Rom. 1:16; 10:17)? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 16:16; James 2:24-26)? Have you repented from sin and turned toward God (Acts 2:38)? Are you willing to make a public confession of your faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10)? Will you be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (Romans 6:3-5; Acts 22:16)? If you answer “yes” to all of these than you will be called a Christian.

 – Daniel R. Vess

Why Go to Worship?

Some go to church to take a walk.
Some go there to laugh and talk.
Some go there to meet a friend.
Some go there their time to spend.
Some go there to meet each other.
Some go there a fault to cover.
Some go there for observation.
Some go there for speculation.
Some go there to doze and nod.
The wise go there to worship God.
—Spurgeon

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Categories: The Forum