Belief vs BELIEF
John 8:21-30
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
There is belief, and then there is BELIEF! There is belief in a thing that is mental assent only – a vague, general acceptance that the thing is probably real or true, but it doesn’t affect how I live, and, honestly, I don’t care.
Then there is BELIEF – the kind of revelation and conviction that leads to action. I believe that excessive sun exposure causes skin cancer – therefore, I put on sunscreen, wear a hat, and avoid long periods outdoors in mid-summer. I BELIEVE that speeding will increase my risk of a car accident, could cause injury to myself and others, and potentially ruin lives, including mine – therefore, I slow down when I drive. These are BELIEFS that cause change and action.
The last verse of this passage says, “Even while He spoke, many believed in Him.”
Not mental assent or vague acceptance – BELIEF that leads to a life change. “This Jesus,” they came to realise, “can take away my sins! I’ll die because of my sin if I don’t follow Him” (See verse 24). Their BELIEF led to action, and the action was life change – they followed Jesus.
What about you and me?
“Even as He spoke…” Can you hear Jesus’ firm but kind voice calling you to BELIEF today? Can you hear the urgency in His voice, pleading for you to change your life’s direction away from selfishness, pride, and shame (repentance) and embrace the brand new life of joy, peace, and forgiveness that comes only by following Him? “Even as He spoke…” Will you believe?
Jesus, I hear you calling me today to BELIEVE and follow. Please forgive me, wash me, reset my life to follow you. Amen
Written by B van Noppen