Why do you believe what you believe?

Do you know why you believe what you believe?  Is it because it was what you were raised to believe?  Is it an experience that convinced you to become a believer?  People all want something to believe.  They all want to know the reason why they are here and down deep they are all searching for something meaningful.  As Christians, who is what I am, we have to be ready to share our faith at any given moment.  I believe that we have to have an answer ready in our hearts explaining our belief.  This is something that has been burdened on my heart since a recent conversation I had with an atheist.  I believe sometimes we can become so passionate about what we believe that we fail to deliver that meaning with compassion to a hurting world.  Lately, Christians have been portrayed as very judgmental and hypocritical.  Maybe that is true for some and maybe true for all of us sometimes, but I do not think that it is really what we intend to be represented.  I believe that they are so passionate about what they believe and do not understand what is so hard to believe about it.  I understand it is not easy for all people to believe and for others sometimes belief just comes easier.  I was one of those who believed really easy, I could see God in everything.  I still can even now at 32 years old; I can see His hand even more than I ever could before.  We all have our own life story and I would like to share my simple reason of why I believe in Jesus Christ with every part of my heart.

Yes, I was raised in church.  My parents made sure that I was there every Sunday until I became a teenager and then it was my choice.  I continued to go because I loved it.  I was not forced to go.  It is hard for some parents to understand that, but I see now that my parents really just wanted me to know that my relationship with God was my choice.  That it could be great but that they could not make my relationship with Him for me.  So many people have made the comments that we believe what we do because it is drilled in our heads.  I disagree.  That is not the basis of my belief.  I believe in God and His son Jesus, because I experience a real relationship with them.  I have seen Him answer prayer that only God knew I prayed.  Not always in my favor mind you, but still answered.  My faith is built on the fact that I know that God is always going to do what is best for me, even if it is not what I asked for.  I believe because I have felt His presence in my life at times when I really needed it.  I have felt His comfort for my broken heart, His peace for the battles that rage within and the ability to forgive those who have hurt me deeply and to humble myself to ask forgiveness of those whom I have hurt.  You see with God there is no room for our selfish pride, but humble brokenness that somehow makes us feel whole and complete.  Do not be mistaken though Christians are not weak, because of Him we are strong.  It takes a strong person to be humble to an ever cruel world.  I believe because people have been healed by no scientific answer.  Some call that luck; I call it healed by God.  You see I do not believe because someone told me it was the right thing to do, but because it is the only way.  He has shown me time and time again just how real He is.  That is why I believe in God and the resurrection of His son.  If you are not a believer of God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ His Son I encourage you to seek Him.  Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and I believe with all of my heart you will not be disappointed!  Earnestly ask and He will answer!

As a Christian I believe every word of the King James Bible.  I know that many people do not.  Let me ask one question though.  If you believe that God is real and He is our Creator than why can you not believe that He could create a book of absolute truth?  A book that could withstand the test of time that man could not corrupt.  Why do we put Him in such a box?  The Creator! I cannot recall a time that I have earnestly searched for an answer from God’s word and not gotten an answer.  Whether that answer was comfort, peace or just understanding of whatever I was facing.  The living word of God has an answer for us all who genuinely search for it.

One last thing, I am sure some of you have heard this analogy before but just think about it.  How do you know the wind exist?  Did someone tell you it was real so you chose to believe?  We can’t see it.  So what makes it real?  Can you feel it?  Can you hear it?  Yes, because we feel it and hear it.  That is how we know it is really the wind blowing the leaves in the trees.  We know God is real because we can feel Him move in our lives.  We can hear Him if we will be still and quite our souls to hear His gentle whispers.  It’s not always a thunder boom, lightning striking voice.  Sometimes it is as gentle as the rustling of the leaves.  When this life is over if the nonbelievers of this world were to be right, then I have lost nothing by believing.  If I am right though, was it worth the risk of facing eternity separated from God in a life of utter darkness and torment?