I See What You Believe

I’m sitting on a chair at my desk, because I believe the chair will hold me up for as long as I sit in it. If I believed the chair was literally on its last legs and would collapse at some point, sending me quickly—and unexpectedly—to the ground, I would not be sitting here.
 
Earlier this morning, I took a quick break to run an errand for my lovely bride. I drove my car to complete that task, because I believed the car would get me safely to my destination. That faith, if you will, also involved a trust in other drivers, that they would travel in the correct lanes, stop at red lights, yield when required, etc. Had I believed that my car was not roadworthy, or that the other drivers were going to break traffic laws, I would not have driven my car.
 
A little over 30 years ago, I married the aforementioned lovely bride, because I believed we both meant the vows we made, when we promised to take one another from that day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. I believed that each of us would love, honor, and cherish the other until death do we part. Had I believed that either of us (or both of us), did not really mean those vows, I would not have said, “I do.”
 
I live out what I believe, even if I’m just sitting at a desk or running an errand. I do likewise in the more important aspects of life, such as marriage and faith in God. My actions reveal my beliefs. I suspect the same is true for you. You see what I believe; I see what you believe. In the case of faith, if you believe that God is real, that the Bible is His Word, that He came to the earth in the person of Jesus, that He lived a perfect life, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, and that He not only knows what’s best for you, but wants what’s best for you, then you do your best to obey Him and put your eternity in His hands. If you don’t believe those things, then you obey yourself or someone else. Stated simply, if your faith is in Jesus, you follow Him; if it’s not, you don’t.
 
Speaking for myself, I do believe in Jesus, so when life doesn’t make sense, I still follow. When I have trouble understanding something in the Bible, I still believe. When God tells me to do something I don’t want to do, I still strive to do it. When God tells me not to do something I want to do, I still do my best to avoid it. When I’m struggling and hurting and suffering, I turn to God, not away from Him. When doubts and questions shake me to the core of my soul, I still trust in Him. When life in this world seems utterly hopeless, I don’t give up. Why? Because, again, I believe that God is real, that He knows what’s best for me, and that He wants what’s best for me. His ways are better than mine and He always has something good in store for me, sooner or later (even if the “later” will happen in heaven).
 
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. – Hebrews 11:6
 
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9
 
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
 
Troy Burns