WEDNESDAYS WEEKLY WORD..."believe or not believe...that is the question"

IN WHOM OR WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

We believe that electricity will flow to the light switch and when we flip the switch the light will turn on ...or we don't believe!

We believe that each day will turn into night...or we don't believe!

We believe that a baby is created at conception...or we don't believe!

We believe that God is the creator of all things...or we don't believe!

We all believe in something. Think back to when you were a teenager, who believed in you the most? Was it ~

1. Your Mother?
2. Your Father?
3. Your Best Friend?
4. Your Girlfriend or Boyfriend?
5. Your Boss?

How did this one person PROVE that they had faith in you?

PROOF...now there is something many of us are looking for. And seemingly, when we don't see the proof we tend to have unbelief. Unbelief or what I would call lack of faith.

Tragedies will often times make us have a lack of faith. Tragedies and hard times will make us wonder if God is even watching. If He even cares. When guilty parties get away with their evil actions...we wonder "Why God?" And when the humble get stepped on, we ask "God, are You even there?"

PROVERBS 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path."

Unbelief or failing to fear God, is the source of a lot of misunderstanding about life. Those that do not believe in God or fear His power can be in one or two places: 1. they do not KNOW the truth or 2. they do not UNDERSTAND the truth. Why else would someone not have belief in God?

Oftentimes, people become bitter with life, they see no purpose. If people knew there was a purpose, if they knew that there is a God who sees all, they would at least have comfort in suffering. People complain that God is unfair because they do not know His justice. The injustices that they see will be made right. People who sin without any thought of the consequences do so because they do not really believe that God sees and cares.

BUT HE DOES!

Wisdom can take you a certain distance without God. People can learn to get along better when they make wise choices such as overlooking insults. People can follow much of the wisdom that is in the book of Proverbs without God, BUT, Godless wisdom can only take you so far!

More than having wisdom, we must also believe that God exerts influence over the outcomes of this world. Unless you believe in God's influence over His creation, you will not be able to see an ultimate purpose in your life.

PROVERBS 16:9 "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

PROVERBS 20:24 "A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?"

God did not choose the madness that we experience in life. We chose it. Yet, God redirects the madness and moves it in the direction that He desires. Life, at times, may seem random to you. Like a dice being rolled. Einstein famously made this remark, "God is not playing dice with the universe." In the old testament, you see people who used lots (or a kind of dice). Solomon tells us in the book of proverbs that God even decides the outcome of the casting of lots. (Prov. 16:33)

Even when we plot and scheme, we cannot control life. It is not random. It is not in our power to control. It is ultimately under God's influence and control.

SO WHOM DO YOU BELIEVE IN?

In last weeks YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I asked the question: "When life hits hard, how is your trust in God?" The top 2 responses are:

1. 78% of those who voted said that their faith in God is the only thing that gets them through hard times.

2. 21% voted and said that they know God is in control but they fix their minds on their circumstances.

I am pleased to see that our faith in God is strong. I ask you to look deep in your spirit and answer this question:

"Why do you believe and what do you believe?"

When I look around and see God's creation, it is clear to me that our world is far too complex to be an accident. But, it is not enough for me to just say "I believe in God" ~ when I am faced with the unbeliever questioning God's existence and power, I must be able to explain not just WHAT I believe but WHY I believe.

BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE...

NOW, THAT IS THE QUESTION!

I am studying the book of Proverbs and it is my prayer that this post today will cause you to dig deep and understand what you believe in. Believing in God and fearing God is the beginning or the foundation of our wisdom. To help you better understand what you believe, will you join me this week in writing down 5 truths that you know only because God (not someone else) told you in His Word. Knowing WHAT you believe will now make it easier to share with others WHY you believe!

I love to hear your comments, and welcome your thoughts on this study as well as your 5 truths. Have an awesome week!


YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL: Please take time to vote in this weeks poll, located on the side bar of this blog. This week I am asking, "how would people describe the way you live your life?" Thanks for voting. YOUR OPINION MATTERS!