Belief—The Seed of Life
4/12/2001
Unbelief is just as destructive today as it ever was. We may not turn into a pillar of salt—but we do become stiff-necked and bitter! The ground doesn’t open up to swallow us—but we are swallowed by troubles, stress and problems. Fire doesn’t come down and consume us—but our spiritual life is destroyed!
No, we don’t die physically—but something within us dies. Our love dies. Conviction dies. Conscience dies. Peace dies. Hope dies. All the things that make our walk with Jesus sweet... die because of the sin of unbelief!
Many are guilty of the mother of all sins—and still do not fear it! Some do not take their unbelief seriously. We may mistakenly live as though we think God winks at our unbelief, our weak and self-centered attitudes (or think He feels sorry for us because after all, we just have life sooo bad). AND YET UNBELIEF IS THE ONE SIN THAT OPENS OUR BODY AND SPIRIT TO EVERY OTHER SIN KNOWN TO MANKIND! Let’s not DO that!!!
From Hebrews 10...
Remember the earlier days in which, having seen the Light, you endured many conflicts and sufferings, and you remained filled with Faith. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail. When all of your possessions were taken away from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity.
Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
“For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
And a righteous person will live by faith.
But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns back.”
ANOTHER way to view the whole thing, from Alongside Him ................................... ;)
“But we are not like those who shrink back on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our deliverance.”
Belief that climbs the Sycamore Tree, or cries out, “SON OF DAVID! Have Mercy on me!” is just as powerful and restorative today as it ever was, because JESUS is as much MESSIAH and DELIVERER as He ever was!
Let’s “Fix our eyes on JESUS”—knowing with a firmly held conclusiveness in our hearts, “without wavering, fully persuaded”—regardless of our circumstances, our pasts, or even our weaknesses within ourselves...HE IS “the Author AND Perfecter of our Faith” and HE LIVES to Intercede for us, and to “present us UNSPOTTED before His Glorious Throne!” He LIVES to “make useful and holy those whom He has made perfect!” The Government is on HIS shoulders.
BELIEVE in the One whom the Father has Sent!
Root out the fears and doubts and self-pity and sins that we use to “hedge our bets” and bring “self-blessing” to ourselves. HOLD ON to the HOPE of the CONSOLATION OF HIS PEOPLE, JESUS CHRIST—and you will not NEED to prop yourself up with the vices of self-life, pride, materialism, vanity, lusts, power, and worldly satisfaction. Offer those junky things up as gifts to the One who makes you whole. : )
“THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE CARPENTER-KING and MESSIAH SHALL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME!”
“THE ZEAL OF THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY SHALL ACCOMPLISH THIS!”