WHAT TO BELIEVE
It is interesting and difficult to understand why people don’t both read and believe the Bible. It’s even more concerning and difficult to comprehend why people who do read and understand the Bible often do not really believe what it says. Perhaps it’s because there has been such a long period of time that has elapsed between the events of the Bible and now; as a result, it’s just difficult to really grasp the significance and meaning of what is being said.
Perhaps it’s also the fact that history has shown us the great multiplicity of gods worshipped in the past and so it sometimes becomes difficult, for many, to distinguish between the gods worshiped in the past and the God we worship at present. Unfortunately, many seem to be turning back to the past to pay homage to those gods of that time. Those are gods who seem to permit actions which people desire to do rather than actions which would honour the God who provides direction for us to do what would be best for our lives. This latter, of course, often grinds against our so called freedom.
Two thousand years ago, people accepted and even died for the faith they believed in. It was new and visible and they related to it in a way that seems impossible today for many people. Multitudes accepted and believed, not just in Christ, and who He said He was, but also, after His crucifixion, that He was coming again to redeem His people. At present, that belief has waned and few, at present, seem concerned that such an event may be on the horizon. But then, doesn’t the Bible also state that such would be the case: “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first…” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
During the era of Judges, there were many times when Israel fell away from God only to have Him, for a time, reject them and allow them to go their own way. But when they realized eventually how much better off they were following His guidance than doing their own thing, they would repent and He would again provide a leader to show them the right way. This happened over and over again until realization set in that everyone doing “…what was right in his own eyes…” (Judges 17:6) didn’t work. They asked for a leader, a king, to unite them, apparently not realizing that they already had a king in God Himself.
Today, it again seems as if people want to do only that which seems right to them. As Adam and Eve felt it right to eat the forbidden fruit, or the sons of Jacob felt it ok to sell Joseph into slavery, or it felt right for David to commit adultery with Bathsheba. It apparently seemed ok to Hitler for him to eliminate the Jewish people and now it appears that Putin feels that it’s ok to eradicate Ukraine.
The world still needs the same King that Israel required thousands of years ago. But we have, to great extent, given up the belief that He is still there waiting for us to return to Him while there is still time. Jesus Himself repeated the warning regarding deception that was mentioned above in Thessalonians.
Take heed that no one deceives you.
For may will come in My name
…and will deceive many.
And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars.
See that you are not troubled,
for all these things must come to pass…
For nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom.
And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes…
Lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
(from Matthew 24:4-7;12)
(This warning can also be read in Mark 13:5-13 and Luke 21:8-19)
Many no longer believe in Christ’s returning. And if that is the case, then they are not likely to accept fully that He came the first time, to receive the warnings regarding the future, or to learn from the lessons of the past. But considering the circumstances engulfing the world at present, to believe and accept, or not, is something each of us should seriously think about.
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