In a world in which we are afforded many choices, we must assure that we make the right ones. It is easy to make choices based on how we feel, but we must make choices based on what we know. And what do we know? We know that we were all given the opportunity to live, and one day, that life will end. It’s not the most popular topic, but it is a most important one. And since we are going to die one day, we must make the right choice now about whether we will live for God. That choice will determine whether we will go to Heaven or Hell when we leave this life.
Many assume that they are going to Heaven when they die. They think that simply because they love the Lord and believe in His name, they will make it in. They believe this, even though they are doing things that are not pleasing to God. But mere belief gets us nowhere. The Bible tells us that devils also believe and tremble (James 2:19 KJV), so simply believing in Him is not enough. Devils believe in God, know that He is real, but, because of their disobedience, they will one day face God’s wrath. The same is true for many people. They believe in God, know that He is real, but they must realize that there are consequences for the wrong things they do. The kind of belief God is looking for should cause us to want to change our lives and make sure that it aligns with His commandments. When we say we love someone or believe in something wholeheartedly, it should inspire us to act according to the identified requirements.
What we truly believe is what we live by. If we believe in God, we should live according to His Word. To do that, we must make a conscious choice to take Him at His Word, spending time daily in His Word, ingesting the life that is in it so that we can know how He wants us to live.
Many people have trust issues, and that can make it challenging to believe what anyone says—even God. But that is where faith comes in. We cannot look at God the way we look at men. Scripture tells us, “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19 KJV). The verse goes on to say, “Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” God means what He says, and He says what He means. If it is written and He has spoken it, we can believe it. And if we believe it, we must live by it. That is true faith and belief in God.
God’s way must be our choice. Even in a world full of options, we must make Him our choice. We must actively choose to believe in Him. When the world or our flesh tempts us to gravitate toward its desires, we must decide to obey God instead. If we say we believe in God and in what He says about sin or disobedience, then we must live accordingly. He is not going to give us a pass based on how much we claim to love Him. Faith is what pleases God. “For it is impossible to please God without faith” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).
Some may ask, “How do I know I’m having faith in God?” You’ll know by how you respond to what He has said. Do you believe Him? And if so, are you living according to His Word? Faith says, I believe what God is saying, so I’m going to do what He tells me to do. If He says, “Don’t worry,” I won’t worry. If He says, “Don’t do a thing,” I won’t do it. If He tells me to trust Him, I will trust Him. I will live my life according to what He has said, not my desires, not my thoughts, not my feelings or emotions, only what God has said.
If you struggle to choose the ways of God, you are not alone. It is easy to depend on yourself or others because that is what we can see. It can be challenging to believe in a God we cannot see, but that is where faith comes in. We must intentionally choose to believe not only in who God is, but in what He has said. We grow in our faith by spending time with Him. Take the step today to draw closer. He’s waiting for you to make the right choice.
Let us Pray:
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times when I have not made You my choice in all things. Today, I choose to follow You. I ask that You forgive me of my sins and cleanse my heart of anything that is not like You. Help me to not only believe by my words, but also by my actions. Thank you for the power of the Holy Ghost who strengthens me daily. I know that I have made the right choice by living a life of faith before You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.