Thursday, October 7, 2010

October 7, 2010

There are those who would say it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.
The Rich Man in Jesus' story might beg to differ with that claim. He believed that his standing as a Jew and his wealth would be enough to prepare him for eternity.
He believed wrong. Dead wrong!
One of the reasons Jesus was met with so much opposition during His days on earth was precisely because He challenged people's beliefs. People get comfortable with their beliefs and don't like to have them confronted with alternate ideas. But Jesus, being the Son of God, knew the truth and He loved people enough to challenge their false assumptions. In fact, not only did He KNOW the truth, He WAS the Truth!
Beliefs are powerful!
Believing lies can cost you bigtime - for a long time - forever! That is the point of Jesus' story about the Rich Man and Lazarus which we have been examining from Luke 16.
But, believing the truth and having a personal relationship with the Truth, can lead you to an eternity more blessed than you can imagine!
When was the last time you examined your beliefs? I suggest you not wait until it is too late as the Rich Man did. By the time the truth became clear to him it could no longer help him - it only haunted him.
Centuries ago the Church Fathers summarized the essential beliefs of the Christian faith into a concise creed known appropriately as The Apostle's Creed. It might be helpful to be reminded of it and use it as a grid to measure your assumptions:
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting."


Amen.

Truth is eternal. So are lies. Therefore, both are extremely powerful and consequential.

Know what you believe and why you believe it. The search for truth begins with the truth that Truth is not just a creed, it is a Person - The Christ.

Do you know Him?