Reasons to Believe

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Mike

There is nothing you have to do to receive God’s free gift of Salvation other than honestly believe in God and seek to follow Jesus with a pure heart.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 (NASB)

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Let this be a time of worship to God. Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God. Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God. Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided. These songs were carefully chosen. Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord. Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression. Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study. May you be greatly blessed.

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Let’s Pray Together

Almighty Creator of the universe, watching over us all, we praise your holy name. Guide us toward your approaching kingdom as loyal followers of your every desire. Thank you for all that you provide in our lives. Bless us Father with your goodness and mercy, as we stumble our way through this life, and provide us with the ability to bless others in the same manner. Keep our minds ever vigilant to the disruptive powers of the evil one. Guide us on a path that avoids destruction. You alone are our protector and deliverer. We ask these things in the Holy name of Jesus. Amen.

Reasons to Believe

If you have not yet trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you’re in the right spot. Open your mind, open your heart, and spend a few minutes carefully considering this message – everything that comes next in your life depends on how you interpret this information. If you are already a believer, you are also in the right spot. Use this time to praise God for the gift he has given you. Consider how you might use this message to share the gospel with a friend.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1(NIV)

The extraordinary complexity of the earth and all of its components, including all forms of life and all of the amazing forces of nature that work together in harmony, demonstrate beyond any logical reason that there had to be a designer and creator. Likewise, the way our minds work, the way our bodies adapt and perform, is additional evidence there had to be a designer and creator.

The Bible

The Bible tells us that God was our Creator. Manuscript evidence confirms the Bible we have today is a near perfect copy of the original documents. Hundreds of prophecies found in the Bible have been literally fulfilled, many with astounding accuracy. The New Testament writers were so convicted by their experience and so committed to sharing their eyewitness accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they did not recant their story even in the face of death. Most of the Apostles were killed for their faith. It is therefore logical to believe these men actually did witness the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That miracle alone is enough to confirm the Bible truly is the Word of God as Jesus said.

God’s Law

God supplied us with a conscience to discern good and evil. God also gave us a list of rules to follow. The Ten Commandments are the foundation of God’s Law and serve as a tool to reveal our God-given conscience. The Ten Commandments tell us to worship God rather than money, power, or any other lustful desires. We are instructed to honor our parents, not to murder, not to commit adultery, not to steal, not to lie. All of these things ring true in our God-given conscience, suggesting that the Ten Commandments and our conscience were both creations of God.

Sin

No one can read the Ten Commandments without saying they have broken at least one at some time or another. God created humans to live with him in a perfect world; however, he also gave humans the ability to make their own decisions. Unfortunately, from the beginning, humans have chosen to follow their own selfish desires rather than God’s perfect law. We cannot live with God unless we are perfect like him; therefore, if we break any of his commandments we are appointed to die. Because of God’s great love for his creation, he has provided for us a way to escape death and be counted as perfect even though we remain imperfect humans. God sent his Son Jesus Christ, to die on the cross as payment for our sins. If we believe in Jesus, placing our faith in his death and resurrection, we are counted as perfect. That salvation restores our ability to live forever with our perfect God.

Rejecting this truth does not make it go away. Sooner or later, your time to die will come. You need to be ready.

Here’s a great old song that illustrates this point:

God’s Gonna Cut You Down – Johnny Cash

You can run on for a long time

Run on for a long time

Sooner or later God’ll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar

Go and tell that midnight rider

Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter

Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down

Well my goodness gracious let me tell you the news

My head’s been wet with the midnight dew

I’ve been down on bended knee talkin’ to the man from Galilee

He spoke to me in the voice so sweet

I thought I heard the shuffle of the angel’s feet

He called my name and my heart stood still

When he said, “John go do My will!”

Go tell that long tongue liar

Go and tell that midnight rider

Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter

Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down

You can run on for a long time

Run on for a long time

Sooner or later God’ll cut you down

Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand

Workin’ in the dark against your fellow man

But as sure as God made black and white

What’s done in the dark will be brought to the light

You can run on for a long time

Run on for a long time

Sooner or later God’ll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar

Go and tell that midnight rider

Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter

Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut you down

Salvation

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

Achieving the perfection of God is a simple matter of faith. The punishment for our sinful nature is death. Jesus Christ died on the Cross as payment for our sins and anyone can receive the free gift of eternal life, in Heaven with God, by placing their faith in Jesus, trusting Him as their Lord and Savior, and turning from sin with a heart that is focused on being a true follower of Jesus Christ. There is nothing you have to do to receive God’s free gift of Salvation other than honestly believe in God and seek to follow Jesus with a pure heart.

Knowing Jesus

The most powerful evidence that there is a God and that the Bible is truly the Word of God, comes after you’ve taken this step of faith and committed your life to Jesus. At that moment, your eyes will be open and your mind will be set free from this world. Everything that I stated above will then be made real to you through that transformation. The path to that experience is traveled with an open heart, open mind, careful study of God’s Word, and sincere prayer. This is not religion – this is a personal relationship with God and it is available to all.

If you are not already a believer, now is the perfect time to take this step. It’s time.

Allow this song to speak to your heart as you listen for the voice of Jesus calling you home.

It’s Time – The Winans

Well, it’s time to make that change

People of the world today are fading

All of us have our ups and downs

You better think about it or you won’t be around

What we need is a little bit of love

Sent by One from Heaven above

Take it from “T.”, it’s simple and plain

This ain’t no game, you know what I’m saying?

It’s time…time to make a change

We are the people who can do it

It’s time…time to make a change

We are His people, we can do it

Yo, Marv, kick it for me one time.)

What is the world coming to

Seems like everyone is running from the truth

We must stand up and fight

Walk into the light

We’re the people, we can do it, if we try

I know we can do it

Somebody asked me ‘Why do we have to go through it?’

It’s just a test of our faith

What we’re living day to day

We don’t know where, we don’t know when

But He’s coming back again

It’s time…time to make a change

We are the people who can do it

It’s time…time to make a change

We are His people, we can do it

Yo, Marv, kick it for me one more time.)

Jesus is spreading mighty fast

Earthquakes are moving through the land

It ain’t nothing but a sign

Gotta make up our mind

We’re the people, we can do it, if we try

I know we can do it

Somebody asked me ‘Why do we have to go through it?’

It’s just a test of our faith

We’re just living day by day

Don’t know where, don’t know when

But He’s coming back again

It’s time…time to make a change

We are the people who can do it

It’s time…time to make a change

We are His people, we can do it

Well, it’s time to make that change

People of the world today are fading

All of us have our ups and downs

You better think about it or you won’t be around

What we need is a little bit of love

Sent by One from Heaven above

Take it from “T.”, it’s simple and plain

This ain’t no game, you know what I’m saying?

I know we can do it

Somebody asked me ‘Why do we have to go through it?’

It’s just a test of our faith

We’re living day by day

Don’t know where, don’t know when

But He’s coming back again

It’s time…time to make a change

We are the people who can do it

It’s time…time to make a change

We are His people, we can do it

It’s time…time to make a change

Why God Created Us

God created us because He is the creator. That’s what he does. His mission is to help us grow and be like Him, living an eternal life by His side. The Bible clearly states that there is only one God. God is an eternal being who has always been and always will be. In all eternity, the time we spend here on this earth is but a moment. God has provided us with this moment to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Everything we encounter in this life is to that end. The first and most important lesson we must learn is that we are nothing without God. We need to look in the mirror of God’s law and realize we don’t even come close to His perfection, but God has provided us with a way to achieve that perfection through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Living Your Life with Jesus

If you are already a believer you know the extraordinary peace that comes in knowing Jesus. If you are yet to take this step, you may be wondering what happens next? How will your life change? What will people think about your transformation? Honestly, there’s only one way to find out – open the door and let Jesus into your heart.

Enjoy this last song before you go.

Jesus Freak – DC Talk

Separated, I cut myself clean

From a past that comes back in my darkest of dreams

Been apprehended by a spiritual force

And a grace that replaced all the me I’ve divorced

I saw a man with a tat on his big fat belly

It wiggled around like marmalade jelly

It took me a while to catch what it said

‘Cause I had to match the rhythm of his belly with my head

‘Jesus Saves’ is what it raved in a typical tattoo green

He stood on a box in the middle of the city

And he claimed he had a dream

What will people think

When they hear that I’m a Jesus freak

What will people do when they find that it’s true

I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus freak

There ain’t no disguising the truth

Ain’t no disguising the truth

No, I ain’t into hiding the truth

Kamikaze, my death is gain

I’ve been marked by my Maker

A peculiar display

The high and lofty, they see me as weak

‘Cause I won’t live and die for the power they seek

There was a man from the desert with naps in his head

The sand that he walked was also his bed

The words that he spoke made the people assume

There wasn’t too much left in the upper room

With skins on his back and hair on his face

They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate

You see the Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak

Until the king took the head of this Jesus freak

What will people think

When they hear that I’m a Jesus freak

What will people do when they find that it’s true

I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus freak

There ain’t no disguising the truth

People say I’m strange, does it make me a stranger

That my best friend was born in a manger

People say I’m strange, does it make me a stranger

That my best friend was born in a manger

What will people think

When they hear that I’m a Jesus freak

What will people do when they find that it’s true

I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus freak

There ain’t no disguising the truth

What will people think

When they hear that I’m a Jesus freak

What will people do when they find that it’s true

I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus freak

There ain’t no disguising the truth

What will people think

(What will people think)

What will people do

(What will people do)

I don’t really care

(What else can I say)

There ain’t no disguising the truth

(Jesus is the way)

Thank you for spending this time considering and worshiping God.

His door is now open to you. You are in God’s presence. Don’t leave without Him. Keep Him with you throughout your day.

Go in peace.

All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.