Why I Still Believe*

In these times when we are seeing wars, a pandemic, extreme weather, and other events take their toll on lives, often the question is asked, "Why did God allow this?" and "Where is God?". In fact, many tragic events are called "acts of God". Unbelievers justify their unbelief with the idea that if God really existed as He is portrayed, then He would intervene in these matters. Jesus was confronted by unbelievers in the temple on a feast day, and they said to Him: "How long dost thou make us doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." (John 10:24). Jesus answered, "I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep...My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (v. 25-30). At this statement, the crowd picked up stones to stone Jesus for identifying God as His Father. Jesus then told them that if He does not do the works of His Father, don't believe Him, but if does His Father's works, then believe the works. They sought to kill Him again, but He escaped from them. The works of Christ speak for themselves, and for the Father who sent Him. Many did believe in Christ because John the Baptist, a respected prophet among them, publicly identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." (Jn. 10:40-42, Jn. 1:29). The fulfilled scriptures, the miraculous works, and the prophet among them all verified the identity of Christ, yet some would still not believe. The Prophet Isaiah referred back to the promise that God made to Abraham regarding Abraham's seed that the LORD was, and is, still keeping: a promise to strengthen, uphold, help and redeem the seed of His friend, Abraham, and deliver them from their enemies (Isa. 41:8-14). In my own life, and I'm sure, in your lives, we can look back and see when God intervened supernaturally, directing the events in our lives, and even delivering us from grave situations. He is still keeping that promise to Abraham. The kept promises of God is another reason why I still believe. Paul wrote about this: "But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us...was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in him, Amen (meaning firm, faithful, of a truth), unto the glory of God by us." (2 Cor. 1:19-20). Paul wrote that God had anointed and sealed them, and given them the guarantee in the Holy Spirit (v. 21-22). By this same anointing and guarantee, we have seen for ourselves how God answers prayers in our lives. Our personal experience convinces us in our belief that God is true and real, just as He says He is. Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote unbelief and belief. He wrote that it is the person of disobedience, lustfulness and greed that is ordained for condemnation, "...ungody men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord, Jesus Christ", that he warns have come among us. (v. 4, 8, 11, 16). Jude reminded the Church of the consequences in the scriptures to those who had denied God in this same manner in past generations, which was sure judgment (v. 6, 7, 11). Be careful what we allow, and "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (v. 21). Jesus, wrote Jude, is able to keep us from falling, and to preserve us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy..." (v. 24). Do not be caught up in the unbelief of this age, but, as Paul wrote, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1). It is exactly because we believe the promises of God that we should not be conformed to this world, but transformed (Rom. 12:2). Paul also wrote of the sins and sinners of the world who shall not inherit the kingdom of God, and said, "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:9-11). These promises of God in His Word wash us and transform us, as we believe and apply them to ourselves. His promises toward us are yea, and Amen: "For ye are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek...bond nor free...male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:26-29). Here we are brought back again to the promise that God made to Abraham. That same promise carries all the way through to the end of scripture, in the promise to those who belong to Him through faith in His Son. He promises to redeem them out of every kind of people, having made them kings and priests to God (Rev. 5:8-10). It is the same promise that brings the believers out of great tribulation, being dressed in white robes dipped in the blood of the Lamb, and being led by the Lamb to the living fountain of waters (Rev.7:9-17). It is the same yea and Amen promise that says to us, especially in these times of suffering: "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Rev. 21:3-4). All of these things are why I still believe. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/27/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.