SearchRecent ArticlesRecent
|
Does it Matter What We Believe?
What we believe can make a very big difference in our lives. Many people talk freely about the importance of their faith, and especially in getting them through the really tough times that everyone eventually faces. Some people don't bring the matter of faith up voluntarily, but when it does come up, they certainly speak of it in a positive light. Generally speaking, most people in our culture seem to have a genuine admiration for those who acknowledge the importance of their faith, and give credible evidence that they are sincere about it
But the one thing that is often missing, is any specific explanation concerning the actual object of someone's faith. When there is any mention of what it is a person has put their confidence in - it is frequently vague. For many people faith itself is the important thing. As long as a person is genuinely sincere in what they believe, there is a tendency to automatically assume the legitimacy of their faith, no matter what the details may be. In other words, there is a tendency to end up having faith - in faith. There is a very real danger in making faith itself the goal. It would not be difficult to assemble half a dozen individuals whose faith is very sincere, though their convictions are quite contradictory. For example; one person may believe in God as their only hope for a worthwhile purpose in living - others may simply believe in themselves to make the most of their life. If the things people have put their trust in are incompatible, they cannot all be right - no matter how sincere they may be. They may all be wrong, but they most certainly cannot all be right. The object of our faith is critical. The eternal outcome of our very soul is at stake. It is imperative that we not simply lay hold of the thing that most appeals to our own circumstances and sensibilities. Feelings are not a reliable way to determine what we believe in. Our feelings are often exposed as being unreliable. Faith - in and of itself - is of no more value than the worthiness of the object in which it is intentionally placed. Many passengers of the Titanic may have placed sincere faith in the invincibility of that great vessel - but in the end the ship did not prove to be worthy of such confidence. We may find faith to be admirable when it is obviously sincere, but if it is placed in that which is not fully reliable, then it will disappoint us in the end. Faith is only of great value when it is placed in that which is completely worthy of our complete confidence. When it comes to a right relationship with our Creator, there are any number of things that may - from a purely human perspective - appear to be a legitimate place to put our trust. It may seem reasonable for us to put our confidence in the fact that we haven't done anything bad enough to be finally condemned by God. It may seem to us that as long as we put forth a sincere effort to be a good person, in the end God will overlook the bad things we have done. Many people assume that sincere involvement in religion will cause God to look on us favorably. All of these are ultimately, a faith in ourselves. But not one of us is worthy to be the object of so crucial a belief. Jesus of Nazareth declared Himself to be worthy of our faith. He claimed to be the only One worthy of our faith. Jesus taught that unless we believe in Him, as the One who bore our sins, in His body, when He suffered and died in our place - we will not be forgiven, we cannot have eternal life.
Jesus claimed Himself to be the only way for us to be delivered from the judgement each of us rightly deserves because of our rebellion against God. God sees every one of us as being guilty sinners, with no hope of redeeming ourselves. It is only when we see Jesus to be the Son of God, crucified for us, that we can believe in Him for forgiveness. Jesus made this statement to those who were believing in themselves, and refusing to believe in Him;
People are always looking for something else to believe in. It is uncomfortable for us to accept God's assessment of our condition. We all have a very strong inclination to believe in things that have the potential of making us feel good about ourselves. But Jesus was very specific about the only legitimate way to draw near to God.
The only legitimate way to God is the way that honors God - it elevates our opinion of God, not ourselves.
After Jesus died, He was buried, and then on the third day, after His death He rose from the dead. His resurrection confirmed His worthiness as our Savior. His victory over death proved His worthiness to give eternal life to sinners like us. Though the disciples had deserted the Lord when He was arrested - after seeing Him raised from the dead - they put their trust in Him fully. Not long after, some of these men were arrested for publicly directing people to believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Their own lives were on the line, but they were completely confident in Christ. They openly and boldly declared that Jesus is the only hope for sinners.
People often complain about the exclusive nature of the gospel - that there is only one way. Should we not rather be so very thankful that there is a way to be fully and forever reconciled to God - to be given eternal life? Jesus said that the way to eternal life is narrow, and it is, but there is a way! Faith in Jesus is the only way we can draw near to God.
What we believe does matter. There is nothing that matters more. Can you count on what you believe? Have you come to Jesus?
|
|
|
"If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:31-32
|
A Ministry of Free Grace Church
1115 Glenn St. Washington, IL 61571 |