I walked around a Christian bookstore today. The shelves were filled with Bibles, cards, and many books. As I walked past the aisles of books, I was amazed at the number of books on a heavenly experience by someone. Just as many books were there to instruct the reader about the timing of the end of the world. They were only to be outdone by the end capped displays of books full of messages from God to you, and I’m not talking about the Bible!

I have went to this particular bookstore for fifteen years. I began going to this bookstore whenever I would come home from college and seminary. This store used to have several aisles full of pastoral books and commentaries. Sadly, now there is just one small shelf in the corner of the store for pastors.

Bookstores have one job, sell books, even Christian stores need to sell books. So, why is it that solid books geared around studying the Bible are not selling? I believe it is because we like experiences and always look for short cuts in the Christian life.

Experience sells like nothing else. Disney is Disney because they sell an experience. From a quick survey of Christian books in the store, if we want to sell Christian books, we need to sell our experience. People want to read about someone’s time in heaven, hell, or their own quiet times. I have another suggestion to living through someone else’s experience – make your own!

Get out your Bible. Ask God to help you understand it. Experience Him.