I sit here today, on the beach in Destin, reading a Nicholas Sparks book and watching the waves crash against the sand. I thought of how important reading is to my life. Sounds kind of crazy, I know. There's a million other things I could have been thinking about.

I've read countless books through the years, many of which I don't recall at all, but I sit here thinking, "If I was stuck on an island and could only have one book with me, what would it be?"

Would it be a book that I have read in the past and loved? Would it be one written by my favorite author? Would I rather have my cell phone and all the Audible books on it? The more I thought about it the more I was sure I would need something more. Something that would give me strength to carry on. It suddenly dawned on me, if I was stuck on an island with no way off until I was rescued, the only book I would really want with me would be the Bible.

There are many reasons for that.

It's the only book you would never get tired of. Every time you read the Bible, you pick up on something different. It's the only book you would continue to learn from, time and time again. It's so expansive, the brightest minds in the world can't completely figure it out.

It's the only book that would strengthen your faith. All the self-help books in the world do not have the power to build your faith like the Bible does. So, I would not want a self-help book with me.

As a believer in Jesus, I've learned the meaning of life comes from another source: something beyond this world's energy. If I was stranded on an island, I would not want to depend on my own positive thinking or that I personally had the inner power to change my destiny.

To me, some things just demand a higher power: intervention by an eternal God. That's why the Bible is so crucial to survival. It has what no other book has.

Christians go through all the trials and emotions of life just like everyone else. We still have vices. We still have things to overcome. All of our issues don't disappear overnight. They need the constant washing of the water of the word. (Eph. 5:26).

I believe when we leave this earth, we will still be working on our relationships with God, family and friends. A lot of good people die, but I have yet to see a perfect person die. Because there are no perfect people.

The Bible has instructions for all aspects of life. It teaches us how to get along in life and with each other. Its like an old friend who helps us through a bad day or a bad season of life. From my experience, it's just better when we have a relationship with God. Relationship comes through the Bible.

I know everyone's perception ofGod is different, but I assure you, if you were stuck on an island with only one thing to read, and the Bible was the only thing you had to read, your life would be better and more peaceful.

Just imagine this earth is the island you're stuck on. In large part, your survival (and certainly a happy eternal ending), will hang on what you do with that one book. The Bible.