Believe

Believe

When we believe in something, we accept it as true. There are many things, true and untrue, that kids believe in – such as superheroes, religious leaders, friends, or maybe even the Easter Bunny!  But how do you know that what you believe in is true? We should not follow everything that looks or sounds good, or we will be like the man who spent his life searching for the magical fountain of youth. After traveling around the world, he came to realize that he had believed in something that did not exist!

Let’s see what the Bible says about this very important subject.

Who and what should we believe in? The Bible says, “…he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life…” (John 5:24, NKJV).  We are to believe in God and His Word, the Bible. If we do that, God has promised us everlasting life.
Jesus told his disciples that before He came back to earth there would be false Christs who seem to have all the answers to our problems. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders;” (Matthew 24:24, KJV). The Bible warns us not to believe people just because they can work miracles.

Is it wise to believe in a book that was written thousands of years ago? How do I know it’s true? That’s a logical question. A group of people called the Bereans were considered noble because they “searched (or examined) the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11, NKJ). Many people have tried to disprove the Bible but no one has done it and that is what makes it so believable. It is a collection of 66 books and letters, written by at least 35 men, many of whom never met each other, and lived hundreds of years apart.  Yet the Bible has managed to predict with accurate prophecies the birth and death of Jesus and the history of the world. Some of the prophecies were written thousands of years before they happened! God doesn’t expect us to believe in Him blindly. Through the Holy Spirit and the Bible, He has given us plenty of reasons to believe in Him – but we must search the Scriptures to discover the truth for ourselves.

What will believing in Jesus do for me? The Bible says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:31 NIV).  Our short lives would be pretty sad if we didn’t have the hope of eternal life with Jesus in heaven. But there is more! The Bible is full of promises of what God will do for those who love and obey Him. “If you will only listen and obey the commandments of the Lord your God, He will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall always have the upper hand” (Deuteronomy 28:13, TLB). King David said that the people who follow God will be like “trees along a river bank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper” (Psalms 1:3, TLB).  David went on to say that the Bible is “a flashlight to light the path ahead of me, and keep me from stumbling” (Psalm 119:105, TLB). God’s word is full of promises and blessings that will make you happy and will guide you to be the best that you can be. Search them out for yourself!

Jesus prayed for all who believe in Him. The Bible says, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message” (John 17:20 NIV). Jesus prayed for everyone who would believe in Him. That includes you!

When should we believe? It’s in the Bible, “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15 NIV) We should not wait any longer. It is time to follow Jesus.

What are the gifts God has promised when we believe? The Bible says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22 NIV). It also says, “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved” (Acts 15:11 NIV).

Believing in God = Eternal Life. It’s in the Bible, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).  Today is the best day to choose to believe in God! Have you made that choice?