I Believe…I think.

I’ve heard it said that “you have to believe in something”.  There are so many things to believe.  I believe that working out will make me stronger.  I believe that junk food will clog my arteries.  I believe that watering my grass will make it grow.  I believe that looking at porn is toxic to my marriage, and can seriously shorten my life span.  I also believe that God is good, and His Word is true.  Now, I’m sure that there are some people out there who enjoy arguing, and could find some issue to contradict, but for the most part, among followers of Christ I would probably get a hearty “Amen.”

The strange part is that, though I believe all these things (and have for many years) my behavior didn’t always demonstrate the firmness of my beliefs.  I’m sure I’m the only one, but I can recall all the times that I would be slamming Doritos by the bag, and saying to myself “I really gotta go on a diet…tomorrow.”  I’d find more than a few reasons why I was too busy to stop by the gym, or mow my lawn, or pray.  Even guilt had very little power to keep me from falling to temptation.  Oh, I could put on my “good Christian” mask and quote scriptures about what I believed, but when it came down to it, what I “believed” didn’t really affect the way I lived.

So, if believing something doesn’t change the way you live, can you really say you believe?  Ephesians 2:8-9 says “It is by grace that you are saved, through faith (belief), and no credit to yourself – it is a gift from God.  It doesn’t come by our works, so we can’t brag about it.” James 2:20 says “Faith without works is dead.”  For years, I’ve seen religious people swing this pendulum back and forth with no real effect, like a two-hour soccer game with no score.  Some churches have tried to get people to clean up their behavior.  Talk this way, act this way, dress this way, then you’ll be a Christian.  Others have taught that you have no responsibility in the matter.  God chooses who is in, and who is accepted.  Your behavior doesn’t matter.

You want to know what I believe?  Both!  There, settled the argument for all the ages, right?  Well, not exactly.  I’m not even sure I could come close.  I would however, redirect to a question that we can answer:  What are you prepared to do with the things you believe?  If I believed my house was on fire, I’d get out of there.  If I believed I was six months away from a heart attack, I’d order vegetables instead of fries.  If I believed the vows I made to my wife, I’d put a filter on my computer.  If I believed that God is interested in a relationship with me, and has good gifts for my life, I’d spend some time getting to know how to hear His voice.  If I believed that God’s promises apply to me and my family, I’d spend some time studying what those promises are.  If I believed that God hears my prayers, I’d do some more praying.  If I believed that Jesus gave me power to overcome temptation, I’d find out how to tap into that outlet.

The belief written about in the Bible is not just a sensory knowledge.  It’s not religious information to be regurgitated on Heaven’s Fill-in-the-blank entrance exam.  (No, you don’t have to take SAT’s to get into Heaven)  Real faith is an active belief.  It’s the kind of belief that altars the way you make decisions, affects the way you treat others, and authenticates your response to God.  God-given faith is something so real, something you know so confidently, you cannot help but respond dramatically.  Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is the substance of what you hope for, the evidence of what you cannot yet see.”

Would it take a doctor’s diagnosis to make you believe your choices are important?  Would the threat of divorce make you honor your mate?  Would the bill to re-sod be enough to convince you to tend the yard more frequently?  What would it take to get you to take God seriously?  When would be an appropriate time to consult the One who made you?  How many people around you need to be healed before you consider that God could do the same for you?  Will you press through the complacency, excuses, and logical reasons you have for being stuck where you are?  Will you believe that God loves you as much as anyone else?  Will you believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him?  Will you hang on to what you believe, whether your friends believe it or not?  I believe I will.