You Must Believe Something – What is it?

What we believe drives our thoughts, words and actions. What we believe matters.

Do you have core beliefs? Are there principles upon which you have built your life? Are there non-negotiables that help you make decisions and judgments?

Why is this important?

Our world is changing all the time. Perceptions, culture, values, and behavior change. That change can be good or bad. It can make it better for everyone or simply leave damage.

There have been many cultural shifts over the past 60 years. Two serve as excellent examples.

The first example is the cultural attitude towards smoking. When I was a young child, smoking was a socially acceptable behavior. It was appropriate to smoke nearly everywhere. When negative health effects were linked to smoking, things began to change. Slowly smoking was banned in many work, public and private places.

60 years ago, it was difficult to find a place where smoking was prohibited. Now it is more difficult to find a place where smoking is allowed!

The second example is the area of sexual behavior. Sexual expression was suppressed and considered acceptable in just a very narrow set of circumstances, actually one circumstance – heterosexual marriage. Over the years, that view has radically changed. Today, with very few exceptions, virtually every form of sexual expression is considered acceptable.

The point I am making is that public and cultural perceptions of acceptable behavior, of right and wrong, are subject to change. Is this healthy and good or not?

Looking at the two examples above there are some things that to me are clear. First of all, smoking has always been bad for your health whether it was culturally acceptable or not. Second, for the follower of Jesus, sex outside of marriage is morally wrong, whether it is culturally acceptable or not.

To be able to weather the storm of change, we must know what we believe. What we believe establishes our values, which influences our thoughts and manifests in our words and actions.

What we believe leads to consistency and integrity in our lives.

That is why it is important to have a set of values that you hold strongly to.

This I Believe – a true story

When I was in Junior High School, I participated in a public speaking contest. The theme: This I Believe.  I prepared what I thought was a good speech complete with real life illustrations and gave it to the best of my ability.

After all of the participants finished, we waited anxiously for the judges’ decision. They announced third place, then second place. My name had not been called and the boy sitting next to me, quietly congratulated me, sure I had won. Then they announced the winner – and it wasn’t me!

The winner of that contest recited a list of things he believed. After each affirmation he stated: “This I believe.”

I will never be able to undo that experience and redo my speech. But, I offer you today what I believe.

What I Believe

I believe in God. The evidence of creation speaks to one who has intelligently designed this vast universe with harmony and purpose. I have experienced his mercy, grace and love and a level of assurance that to me is undeniable.

I believe in Jesus. The Bible testifies to his life and work. The preservation of God’s Word speaks to his hand in it all and further solidifies the testimony of eye witnesses who recorded what they saw and experienced. Jesus is my example for life – what I think and do and say.

I believe in the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, was promised to all Jesus’ disciples. The Holy Spirit dwells in me in a mysterious way that defies description but is unmistakable in experience.  The Holy Spirit empowers me to follow Jesus and be the best I can be.

I believe in abundant, eternal life. This life is possible because of God’s work in my life through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This life is a life that make a difference and changes my world. I am constantly astounded at the lives that have been changed because of the words I said or the things I did. I confess that often I didn’t think much of them and I have been so surprised when people tell me I made such a difference. This is the life Jesus promised and I am supremely blessed to experience it.

I believe in my mission and that everyone has one. My mission is simple: I help people follow Jesus so they can experience the abundant life and change their world. This mission will never change. I believe that you have a mission, too. God reveals our mission as we follow Jesus and places within us a passion to work on this mission every single day!

I believe in victory over sin and failure. I haven’t always been able to be victorious over sin and many times my life looked like a failure. But as long as I have life, I believe that sin and failure do not have to define me. As I continue to follow Jesus, sin and failure no longer dominate my life. I am not perfect, and I have a long way to grow but I live in victory every day! So can you.

I believe I must persevere. Nothing in life is automatic. Nothing of value is just handed to you. I must continue to work and strive to become all God wants me to be. There are no shortcuts. I must follow, love and celebrate Jesus in my life. He is my joy. For that joy I must constantly pursue his plan, his way and his will. Despite opposition, hardship and disappointment, I press on!

What Do You Believe?

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