Why I believe what I believe

When I was about 13, a friend of mine said, "I believe Jesus was a good man, and a good moral teacher, but I don't believe he was God the Son." This got me thinking, because I had always taken it for granted. Over the next year, I considered this and prayed that God would give me understanding. In the back of a neighbor's Bible was a list of prophecies written hundreds of years before Jesus was born that were fulfilled in Him. Many of these prophecies Jesus had no control over - and at first glance, even appeared to be contradictory. For instance, Micah 5 says that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and yet another passage says that He would be called "out of Egypt" - which seems contradictory until you see how it played out. Even at His crucifixion - a prophecy (Psalm 22) proclaims "They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." - Well, which was it? It doesn't make any sense until you get to the crucifixion scene and see where they divided his garments among themselves, but his robe was one piece, and instead of tearing it, chose to cast lots for it. Many more examples can be found at PropheciesFulfilled. Isaiah 53 is another group of prophecies whose fulfillment amazes me. As I read these prophecies and their fulfillment, I realized that the probability of them being fulfilled in one person was too great, too inconceivable to not be true.

Then there is the "SIN" issue - and here is where Christ provides the ONLY answer. When we sin, we are separated from God. From the beginning (and I don't claim to understand this) - the penalty for sin is the shedding of blood - as is the REMEDY for sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, God clothed them in animal skins - an animal had to die as a result of their sin. When Cain and Abel offered their sacrifices, Abel's offering (a sacrificed ram) was acceptable to God and Cain's offering (the fruit of the land) wasn't. I know, I know, it hardly seems fair, but that is how it is. In the same way, we cannot atone (make good) for our sins on our own. In the Old Testament, a lamb was sacrificed for the sins of the people. At Passover (still in the Old Testament) a lamb was sacrificed and its blood was sprinkled over the doorway and the angel of death 'Passed Over' that house - bringing salvation to those who trusted God enough to follow His instructions to put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. So it is when Christ came, He was the 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' - He was the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifice and the Old Testament Passover. He lived a SINLESS life, and proved that his sacrifice was acceptable to God by defeating death and being raised from the dead. But we must trust God enough to do as He says, and to 'apply' Christ's sacrifice to the frame of our hearts. We must 'receive Him' - John 1:12 - to those who received Him He gives the right to become children of God. When we believe: Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance...
Now, having said all that, another thing that convinces me is the peace He has given me in my heart of hearts. I know I can trust Him with my life and I desire to do all that He asks me to do. Yes, I still sin, but 1 John 2 says that Jesus is my advocate - he pleads my case before the throne of God and says, "I've paid for this one."

Sorry this is so long - it is not a trivial thing to say why one believes what one believes!

Homecoming Anniversary

A year ago today, my mentor and good friend Dennis Knable went home to be with the Lord after a short and challenging battle with cancer. About 4 months ago, John Lile (on the right) joined him. 10 years ago, they helped to found the church that we (Grace Summit) merged with. They were two of the most humble men you could ever hope to meet - ones who saw their lives as an offering to the Lord. They were great husbands and fathers and friends. I have a lot more that I could say. I miss them. Saturday night, I was thinking about Dennis's blessing to his family the night before he went Home. How he blessed them and told his grandson how he was destined for greatness. I was setting my alarm for the morning and flipped the radio on and Steven Curtis Chapman's "With Hope" song was on. That was all it took. I probably wept for a good ten minutes. I hugged my wife tight and told her I love her. Life is too short for anything less.