Norman Vincent Peale, an American author once remarked: “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” John 14:12-14 reminds us: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
Belief is defined as an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof. It includes a primary essence of faith, trust, reliance and credence to name but a few of the many possibilities. Self-efficacy motivates progress. It is the driving force between positive forward movement or remaining static. Its individualistic phenomenon creates a strong foothold on the pathway of life. It provides encouragement and an optimism of the unknown.
Everyone needs belief, Christianity is based on belief with the Bible at its core. If belief does not exist in the heart or soul of man, then neither does God. God is a deity accepted by many religions as the creator of life and the universe. He is considered by most as the provider, guider and supreme being of all life and the true Father of man. A non-existence or lack of belief in God is regarded as atheism which may be viewed in two differing principles: psychological or philosophical. The first relates to a state of lacking the belief that God exists or secondly, the proposition that God does not exist. John 1:1-5 reminds us: ”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
A proposition, although in itself, not deemed as a hypothetical theory, can be used to formulate a hypothesis, which can be part of a theory. Despite its conjecture, it has no sound structure or foundation stone to either prove or disprove its assertion. It is merely a starting point for further discussion. Some doubters may equally state that there is no concrete evidence, other than biblical notations to confirm the existence of God, but what is a proposition if that is not the same? The power of man’s mind includes the faculty of discernment. Discernment includes the wisdom to listen and assess in an entirety rather than on a singular basis.
Conversely, doubt is considered a natural feature of life. It may include a temporary feeling of uncertainty or even a lack of conviction. However, it is nothing to be ashamed of and will never truly upset God. He knows only too well that doubt is merely an element of caution. It allows one to take a step back from the realities of life which may overwhelm, and reflect on all viable possibilities. Several loyal servants of Christ had doubts over various issues, the most notable probably being Thomas after the resurrection. But others also followed suit including John the Baptist. Luke 7:18-23 reminds us: “The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”
In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
The freedom and blessings of God allow mankind to choose or judge for itself the prospect or real truth about His existence. The important decision made by individuals, formats the positive progress or restrictions of life. Life without God impedes His love and diminishes the opportunity for a fruitful or abundant living. Without God, we are as sheep without a shepherd, or an everlasting night without day. The correct moral guidance is forever lacking, the fruits of the bountiful harvest may never be found and we may suffer from the starvation of life.
James E Faust, an American lawyer and politician once remarked: “Some of our important choices have a time line. If we delay a decision, the opportunity is gone forever. Sometimes our doubts keep us from making a choice that involves change. Thus an opportunity may be missed.”
Belief implies acceptance and intellectual assent which subsequently leads to a conviction of mind. It supersedes all uncertainty or doubt and allows for the real truth and testimony of life to be revealed without hindrance. 1 John 5:1-20 reminds us: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is he who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.
Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life - to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
Amen.
