How Can I Believe in Jesus?
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 16:31
What does it take to believe in Jesus? The answer to that question lies within the question itself, your belief. The way you believe Jesus is real–that He is who He said He is–is the same way you would believe Harry Potter is real, or that Allah is real, or that evolution is real: belief.
We are allowed to believe whatever we want, this is called free will. Free will is the greatest ability God has given mankind. It allows us to be like Him. It allows us to be able to make our own choices! And one of the many choices we get to make throughout our short lifetime is what we will believe in.
We will believe in something, even if it’s nothing. Believing in nothing is still faith in nothing. Why can’t we not believe in something? Because humans have a belief system built in to us by God Himself. Just like He gave our physical bodies the longing to drink water, eat food, and breathe air, He gave our spiritual bodies desires which must be quenched as well. For this reason, the Bible says, “God has placed eternity in the heart of every man” (see Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Our spirits are restless until we establish a belief system, even if we establish nothing as our god. This is why an atheist feels satisfied with giving up on a particular deity–incorrectly satisfied mind you–but still, my point is that this part of our spiritual DNA refuses to stay quiet.
Some people even choose to rely on the fairy tale of “Mother Nature” as an actual deity. We simply cannot get away from looking up at the sky and wondering where everything came from. God made us this way on purpose. Thoughts about our origin and eternity is what sets us apart from all of God’s other creations. “Where did I come from?” “Where will I go when I die?” These are thoughts an everlasting being thinks. You are an everlasting spirit who has a body.
Sometimes, as everlasting spirits, we’ll even attempt to meet our spiritual needs with a physical distraction. A particular hobby, an activity, money, sex, an addiction, a person, place, or thing–we can even be distracted by focusing on ourselves in an unhealthy way. Not that there’s anything wrong with ourselves as Christians; and not that any of these things are in competition with God, He’s God. But such can divert our attention away from who He truly is, as well as who we truly are. So we must keep things well-balanced because even good things can be distracting.
Being distracted is usually an involuntary effort–unnoticed, until we’ve taken it too far. Our bewilderment doesn’t mean we’re believing in that person, place, thing, or activity as our Creator, but we’re still trying to fill a void with something or someone other than God. Friend, we were created to place Jesus in this position! That is, if we want to unlock our destinies for being alive!
The Bible says, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).
In Him all things hold together! Only a spiritual relationship with Jesus can hold your life together just right! This is so simple! It’s so simple, it’s almost too difficult to believe. But make no mistake, people who refuse to believe in Christ’s deity, yet claim to believe in nothing at all, they will fight tooth and nail to prove they believe in nothing at all. That fight is called belief! That fight is their faith! We can’t stop believing in something just like we can’t stop our lungs from pumping oxygen in and out of our bodies! No matter how hard we try, we believe! We can’t stop it!
For this reason, Stonehenge was built. For this reason, pyramids were erected. For this reason, witch doctors dance around fires at night–WE BELIEVE. The billion dollar question is: “Is what we believe the truth?”
If we don’t believe in the truth, all bets are off. We can pretty much make up whatever belief system we want. Without a particular truth, even ISIS is just fine in what they are doing because that’s their choice of truth.
“Matt, how can you say that?! They are beheading children in the streets and dipping live men and women in pools of acid! That’s just wrong!”
“Says who?”
“Says me! Any normal person would know that just ain’t right!”
“Okay, but says who? Who, or what, are you basing your truth on as normal? Who are you to say that’s not the truth?”
My friend, without a precise truth, this world is simply an overgrown field of the Serengeti. Without an exact truth—something iron-clad—we are all just animals. The lion is not wrong for killing the zebra, just the same as the house cat is not wrong for eating the robin, just the same as Hitler would not be wrong for wiping out 6 million people from this planet. Be faster! Be smarter! Be stronger–or die! If there is no truth, then there are no guidelines to how we should live and treat others.
Without a singular truth, every aspect of life is simply survival of the fittest. Get rich, use others, push people out of your way, and do whatever makes you feel good–just don’t get caught. Don’t get eaten by a bigger animal. According to this incorrect logic, we are all just operating from our brains’ synopses. “Do what you want, when you want, because you want to–blindly. Repeat.”
Without truth, there is no such thing as spirituality, morals and ethics don’t matter, love is not a real thing, and after death you simply cease to exist. You are annihilated. So if you want Mickey and Minnie Mouse to be your gods, suit yourself. You’re allowed, of course, but that’s not the real truth. And if truth is not real, then the word truth in itself is an oxymoron.
So what is the truth?! Jesus said, “I am the truth” (see John 14:6). Friend, it’s up to you to believe that He actually is the truth! It’s up to you to believe that what He said is the truth! The real truth of life on earth is that Jesus solved the mystery of truth for us, in person, and He did it with love!
So today, my friends, let me ask you this: Are you ready to believe in Jesus? If you are, absolutely everything about your life is about to change! Why? Because you will get a new life! You’ll get Christ’s life! I’m not talking about just having your sins removed–that’s only one part of the gospel. I’m talking about you actually receiving Jesus’ Spirit in your body–for good! The very moment you believe in the truth, that happens! You get Christ’s life! Are you ready?!…Believe! (See Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21, Romans 6:6, 2 Corinthians 5:17).
A prayer for you: Heavenly Father, today I want to thank you for revealing the truth to me about Jesus! Right now, I lift up all who are reading this, directly to you. For those who may or may not believe in Jesus as their Savior, I’m asking that you help them understand your grace on even deeper levels. Reveal the truth and give them the strength they need to overcome any doubts! We love you Lord, and we appreciate everything you do. In Christ’s name I pray, amen.
This devotional is from 60 Days for Jesus, Volume 1. Get your copy here!