What Do You Believe?

What do you believe???

Well, good question. When have you sat back and re-evaluated what you believe, and why you stand for the things that you do, what your future may look like, and at the end of it all what does God think???

I had such an experience; I began thinking and pondering on the things of this life. I had to think also of my eternal life. If I would die today were would I go?

What would God say to me right now if I was kneeling before Him?

Would He turn me away saying that “I never knew you” or would He welcome me with open arms and welcome me into His Kingdom?

I wonder. 

It also suddenly dawned on me that either we except God now; for who He said He is, and what He can do in our lives or we can reject Him and someday admit on bended knee who God really is when He says “I never knew you” and then casts us into udder darkness.

It’s a sobering thought and it brings me to tears just thinking about it.

Where will I, where will you stand on that day? You know these questions aren’t just for us to think about they are for us to take action on. This is life; we don’t just live in a dream. If this is just a dream what does that say about life then? If this is just a dream, than please pinch me and wake me up because I want to get back to the real world.

You see sometimes we think we believe merrily because we have been taught from little up what is “truth”, we have never had to search it out for ourselves. This is what we do, this is how you explain this scripture, if you don’t understand it, talk to your ministry! Above all do not question your belief, just simply believe everything you hear across the podium! 

The result is, what we have today, we have adults in our churches who have no idea what it is like to experience an ever growing, and everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ, therefore generating youth who don’t know what its like either, they believe that works will save you and therefore we do all the right things and we talk about the things we have read about, but never apply any of it to our lives. Further more, we have children who make fun of the Bible and really don’t know that they are doing it and they think its “cool” because Christianity isn’t their belief, its Mennonitizm, Catholism, etc. They have never been taught and we have failed desperately at teaching them.

We may say we believe in God, but do we believe merrily for the blessings and to say that we do, or do we believe because we truly understand what God is saying, that His Word is really, truly, real and we know what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do in our lives in forming us into the people He wants, not the people we think we should become.

I know that this speaks home to many of us seeing as I, and most people I know have been raised in a Mennonite home of some interpretation. I know that my home isn’t perfect and that we have much to learn but I know that my parents have always taught me a balanced view we are Christians we aren’t following a doctrine of Mennonitizm. 

I wonder sometimes if God really likes the name Mennonite the name some use to describe themselves. Why are we ashamed to describe ourselves as His/Christ's followers? It is almost like we hold some shame as we stand there and honestly trying to admit that we follow Jesus Christ and yet on the backside hold onto the ways of a man. Do you believe that He is the Way, The Truth, and The Life?

I have personally dropped the title in recent years because I would, based on God's Word, never want to follow after a man because even Menno Simons was human and made mistakes and fell short of the Glory of God. I ask you why would you want to follow any man?

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then , because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcome and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' " Revelations 3:15-21NKJV

I believe that Jesus is calling all people to rise up, stand for what they believe in Jesus Christ, and not for the "lies" they have been taught, yet holding fast to the Truths of God’s precious Word for in it is eternal life and salvation and it is only through Jesus Christ that we can find full redemption, freedom from sin, and complete peace. 

I encourage each one of you to sit down pen and paper in hand, and write out your personal statement of Faith. This may take you awhile... It will not just be a Sunday afternoon job. It may take you months, but the exercise will be worth it as you discover "the lies we believe and the Truth that sets us Free."

God Bless,