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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 754 March 13, 2003 - Does It Matter What You Believe Growing up I was a typical teenager, I thought I was invincible. I knew all the answers (they didn't match the questions much of the time, but I had answers). I was going to live forever no matter what I did. I did my share of incredibly stupid things. I'm not proud of the stupid things I did and I pray my children are smarter in those areas than their father ever was, but the reality is that I did them. I drank way too much, I tried my share of street drugs, I drove too fast (and then some) and no risk seemed unreasonable. After all, I believed that no harm would come to me, bad things only happened to other people. When my pickup truck ran off the road at more than 110 miles an hour (the speedometer wrapped at 110 so I don't know what speed we were really going) and we walked away unscathed, I thought it was fun. Getting so drunk that I couldn't see straight and then driving was the norm in those years. It is only by God's grace that we were never hurt or killed. "Everyone else" did it, so it must have been okay for me to do it. By the providence of God, I survived to be an adult with only a few broken bones. My few minor scrapes with the local constabulary (some deserved, others not) left me a little wiser, but I didn't have to spend anytime in jail and didn't end up with a criminal record. We experimented with explosives for fun and didn't blow anyone up. There was one time that a .22 cartridge (without the bullet) exploded in my face and left me deaf for a day. I faked my way through the day, too terrified to tell anyone what I had done and fearing that I might never hear again. Once my hearing returned, I was none the wiser, I still thought I was invincible. Perhaps in the neighbourhood or community you lived in, you didn't do the same kind of dumb things I did. If you're honest though, most people have their share of stupid teen experiences that can only be explained by the mistaken belief that either they could get away with it or nothing bad could happen to them. In all the foolish belief that I could never be harmed I was very sincere. It should go without saying that I'm not invincible and never was no matter how sincere my beliefs. Sincerity of belief isn't the answer. No matter how sincerely you hold a belief, if it's not true, your sincerity will never make it true. The Bible says that there is only one way to eternity with God, one way to true forgiveness. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." John 14:6-7 NIV "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 NIV This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:1-20 NIV People who hold differing beliefs may be sincere, in fact many are. Most however really don't know what they believe or why they believe it. They've simply pulled a bunch of beliefs that have accumulated into their life without conscious effort or even examining the alternatives. Most base their entire future on second hand or even further removed knowledge. The reality is though that people without Christ are destined for hell. Hell is real too, even though many people are sincere in their belief that it can't be. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15 NIV If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:29-30 NIV People are free to believe whatever they want BUT the reality is that those beliefs can be wrong and will not change the eternal consequences. If their hope for salvation and eternity is based on anything other than a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ their belief is futile no matter how sincere. Does it matter what you believe? Yes. Yes. YES!! We can never "force " Christianity on someone, it must be his or her choice. Ultimately though, the choice is theirs. Our responsibility is to tell them the truth and show them the hope through our lives. God's responsibility is to change their hearts. Until next time, remember that people are entitled to differing beliefs, but as holders of the truth you have a responsibility to share it in love. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are saved. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. What is it that you have faith in? What do you believe in? It does matter. Faith and truth are eternally important concepts. The true hope is found in a personal relationship with Jesus. Put your faith in Him. If you want to know how that's possible simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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