In light of the new year, this is what ought to be resolved by us all: to determine what we believe and why we believe it. This seems so simple, right? Unfortunately, there are many who have no idea what they believe about the world, their existence, and so on; nor do they know why they believe what they do. In this new year of 2021, it is my earnest hope that many people may press in to resolve the deep questions of their heart; the questions that lead to the ultimate answer: Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:7, and Revelation 3:19-21).
“BY SOAKING IN AND BEING WELL-VERSED IN THE SCRIPTURES, WE ARE, IN ESSENCE, SHARPENING THE BLADES OF OUR SWORDS; THE SWORDS USED TO SLASH THE SCHEMES OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS.”
In order to effectively talk with people about matters of faith, we must be firmly rooted in God’s Word. By soaking in and being well-versed in the Scriptures, we are, in essence, sharpening the blades of our swords; the swords used to slash the schemes of spiritual darkness. If we are to talk to others about the Christian Faith, we must understand what we believe about God, the world, and ourselves. For example, we believe in the Triune nature of God; that there is One God that exists as three co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18). I would have to know how to differentiate this from the Mormon teaching that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but is a separate creation. Of course, the Holy Spirit will guide us in our interactions as we press into our Faith and have conversations with others, but understanding the difference between Christianity (the Truth) and other major world religions can be very beneficial.
We must believe what God tells us rather than what is propogated outside of His Word. We must believe what God tells us about others rather than what they tell us about themselves. We must believe what God says about sin rather than what our fleshly nature says about it. We must believe what God says about the condition of the world rather than using our imaginations. We must believe what God says about living each day on this Earth and in eternity rather than what fear, doubt, and anxiety say. May we be resolved to believe what God says over everything else.
By the end of 2021, I want you to be able to say, “I know what I believe and why I believe it.” May it be . . . RESOLVED. Amen.
