But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

In Thailand, inmates have set up a website to give new inmates and their families a guide to life in prison. Their hope is to one day be able to provide inmates and their families with a comprehensive guide to the prison life whenever someone enters the correctional system. The website offers advice on a variety of subjects such as: how to make their sentence as short as possible, how to get to sleep, and how to plan for their release. A spokesperson for Bangkok’s Correctional Hospital, John Lertwitworapong, said, “We want to tell the public that it is not as scary as people may think but it is not so comfortable that people should be attracted here.” We should hope not!

Wouldn’t it be nice if as soon as we were able to read at a certain level that a comprehensive guide to life would be delivered to us? Such a guide would provide help for every area of our lives. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? A man packing for a trip was being hurried by a friend and he said he was almost ready, but just needed a few more things. He said, “I need: a guidebook, a lamp, a mirror, a hammer, a book of good poetry, a bundle of old letters, a hymn book and a sharp sword.” The man then picked up his Bible, placed it in his suitcase, and told his friend he was ready to go.

The fact is that God has provided us with a comprehensive guide to life. The Bible properly used, with the Holy Spirit as your teacher will instruct you, correct you, make you complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. The key word here is “used.” Many of us have packed our bags for our trip through life; grabbed our Bible, carefully placed it in our suitcase, and left it there. Do you know where your comprehensive guide to life is? Have you “used” it lately?