BELIEVE

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.  John 5:24 NIV

That’s pretty plain, isn’t it?  However, I’ve been told by saints and sinners alike that there has to be more to it than that.  I hope you will join me in taking God at His Word.

God is not human and absent the learning and understanding of His Word.  Humanity is the only thing we have with which to understand.  Our humanity teaches us, that if there is a God, then He would be all knowing, all seeing, bigger than life, eternal, colorful, bright, strong, beyond compare in every way, etc., etc., etc. 

All those things are true, but for those of us who believe His Word, we find that He is loving, kind, giving, pure, full of grace, full of mercy, sacrificial, good, forgiving, and just.  He is amazingly complicated for He measures the universe with the span of His hand. Yet, He is amazingly simplistic.    

He spoke the worlds into existence, made one man in His image, gave only one fruit that should not be eaten, judged an evil world with rain, gave one blessing to one man called Abraham and had only one Begotten Son, Jesus. 

Isn’t it fitting that, if “our ears are open to His words and if we believe, trust in, cling to, and rely on Him Who sent Jesus, then we have (and possess now) eternal life”.  Paraphrased from John 5:24 in the Amplified Bible. 

This is the “born again” experience.  In Acts 8:36, 37 & 38, we find the eunuch asked Philip, “What hinders me from being baptized?”  Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”  And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  So, Philip commanded the chariot to stand still.  And, both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Father God, help us to realize that we are your children, not because of our righteousness, but because of Your righteousness.  Father God, help us to realize that we should listen to your message, believe, trust in, cling to, and rely on You through Christ Jesus.  Father God, help us to be doers of Your Word.  In Colossians 2:6 NKJV, you tell us, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him”.  In the name of Jesus we receive and walk.  Amen and so be it.