Some folks have said that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere in your belief. When I was a young child, I was told that if you stand in a red ant bed and hold your breath, they won’t sting you. Would it matter if I sincerely believed that statement? I have been told that rattlesnakes are poisonous and I have seen the results of someone bitten by one. Would it matter if I sincerely believed they were not poisonous? Well, I can say that I didn’t believe that holding my breath would prevent red ants from stinging me and I do believe that rattlesnakes are poisonous. As a result, I don’t stand in red ant beds and I try to avoid a rattlesnake bite and it did and does matter what I believe about red ants and rattlesnakes.
We are looking forward to Easter Sunday, the special day designated to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, from the tomb. While every Sunday is a celebration of His resurrection, Easter Sunday is the special day. Does it matter what we believe about the birth, life and death and resurrection of Jesus? What are your beliefs about the Biblical account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? What are beliefs? Beliefs could be called doctrines and doctrines are teachings. Biblical doctrines are teachings or beliefs that a great many Christians hold in common and pass on from generation to generation. At first, the disciples of Jesus didn’t need to be concerned about writing down these teachings – they had Jesus – the One who gave the teachings. The disciples learned directly from His teachings day by day as they walked with Jesus. After Jesus returned to heaven the next most reliable source of the teachings was that of the Apostles. However, eventually all the Apostles died. Then there needed to be some way for Christians to guard against errors in their beliefs and teachings since they were surrounded by so many false doctrines or teachings. The best way to keep these teachings correct was to write them down. It was important to write down what Jesus had taught, so that future generations could know the truth. We have those writings today! Those writings are called the Holy Bible. That’s why we look to the Bible as our source for doctrine, beliefs, and teachings.
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired by God and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. Whether you realize it or not, believe it or not, if the world’s people would live by the Bible’s instruction there would be no problems in the world. 2 Timothy 3:16 says: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. We have the responsibility of preaching and teaching Christian doctrine and teaching it correctly. 2 Timothy 2:15 says: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. How can we know that doctrinal beliefs are correct? We must go back to the source, the Bible.
Can you realize what our beliefs do to us or for us? What if you believed that the earth was flat? What if you believed that you could fly (without mechanical help)? It does matter what we believe. Our beliefs determine what we are. They determine our character. What you believe about God determines how you will live. We believe that God is a God of love. He loves all people the same and offers heaven to all who will accept Jesus as Savior. God is a God of justice. He will punish sin, but remember that Jesus has already been punished for your and my sin. God is a God of promise. He promises to be with us throughout our lives if we are His and promises heaven for all who trust in His Son. What you believe about life determines how you will treat others. Do you believe that life is sacred? Then you will live to protect life – yours and others’. Do you believe that life is redeemable? Then you will encourage others to let God redeem them from their life of sin. What you believe determines your destiny. If you believe there is a heaven and a hell, then you will make preparation to miss hell and gain heaven. What you believe molds your actions. If you believe the Bible teaches us to love, those around you will be affected by your kind expressions of love.
Our thoughts and actions are controlled by what we believe. I believe in the reality of Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, Who came to earth to die for the sins of the people of the world. I believe that He was crucified, buried in a borrowed tomb and on the third day came forth from the tomb alive, resurrected. I believe that He is at the right hand of the Father in heaven at this very moment. I have accepted Jesus as my Savior and BELIEVE that I will go to heaven when I die. Do you have this belief? Please be reminded that ALL of us will be “Somewhere Forever” when we leave this world in death. It does matter whether or not you believe the resurrection really happened.
