Something to Believe In



The world has a belief problem. It’s not so much that people don’t believe in anything. Everyone alive has beliefs of some sort. The problem is more that people have a problem knowing what to believe. In the past few years, we’ve seen examples of world leaders lying, scientists fudging data, and even religious leaders misrepresenting doctrine. When authorities cannot be trusted, the world finds itself plunged in turmoil. People won’t trust the instructions on how to handle a pandemic or even if the pandemic exists. People won’t accept that the actions of the masses could be affecting our climate and environment. Some people won’t even accept the truth about the planet on which we live. Yes, flat earthers exist. 

Maybe some might find this lack of belief in our world to be something to laugh at or mock, but the truth is that it can be dangerous. The constant questioning of the existence and severity of the pandemic has made it difficult to overcome. The dismissal of manmade climate change and other environmental problems are pushing our planet closer and closer a point where it may not be able to recover. It would be easy to blame these problems on the people who don’t believe, but again, time after time, we are shown that skepticism isn’t just warranted in this world, but necessary.

So how can we figure out what we should believe as we try to navigate through our lives. Maybe the best thing to do is find something solid on which to build a foundation of belief and progress from there. For Christians, God should be that foundation. What we believe should start with Him and what he’s done for us. Unlike with many of our daily concerns, if we believe the Bible, we know exactly what our belief requires and what will come from it. That is important. Of course, we understand that salvation and eternal life are the most important consequences of belief in God and Jesus specifically.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. - John 20:31
However, belief in God doesn’t just earn us life after death. It can give us something for which to live.
That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10
Paul was telling Timothy that their lives had been given purpose through their belief in God. Their belief gave them direction and a reason to persevere. Many in today’s world need the same. Some people flounder through life unable to find peace of mind, and often the reason for that is their lack of purpose. We all should have many things in our lives that drive us forward, but even one cause can spur a person on towards a successful life. With God, we are given multiple purposes. We are to spread the Gospel, live righteous lives, and love God and our fellow people. Any goal or hope we attach to those purposes can only work to benefit us and more importantly God’s will and the people around us.

Belief in God can also relieve stress and worry. Many of our problems come from what we do not have or what we believe we need, but the Bible tells us that if we believe in God, we will have everything we need.
“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” - Matthew 21:22
If we truly believe in God and strive to live by his Word, we have no reason to fret over what we feel we lack. God will provide, so as believers we can put our faith in Him and keep moving forward. 

Our belief in God won’t necessarily eliminate all the sources of confusion that we may face in our lives, but, if we truly believe in Him, then at the very least we can dismiss anything that we know goes against His will and word. For everything else, we have the benefit of having God as a consultant. Through prayer and faith, we may receive guidance from the Father by way of the Holy Spirit. Even if we don’t fully know who or what to believe when it comes to the things the world throws at us, we will be able to make the right decisions because God always knows the truth and He will never lead us astray.


Chris Lawyer
Image Courtesy of www.pastorrick.com 

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