Do you believe? I mean do you BELIEVE!?! “And as Moses lifted up, the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). So I ask you, DO YOU BELIEVE? This has been on my heart all this week, there is so much floating around to confuse, so many people claim the name of Christ but by their actions appear to trust in everything else but Christ. This makes no since at all, I am confused by this; the Author of Life humbled Himself and became a Man, the Son of Man and yet people live as though this was passé. God does not call for a belief that is passé but an all encompassing belief, a belief that comes from a new birth, not a physical birth but a birth that comes from God Himself, a rebirth of your spirit, a complete change of your heart, no longer caring for the things of this world but your entire existence is of the Kingdom of God.
In talking with the Pharisee Nicodemus (the only time in scripture the Lord had a conversation with a Pharisee that was not totally confrontational by Him and the Pharisees) said this to Nicodemus; “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up”. Nicodemus came to the Lord at night, most likely so that no one would see him but that is not confirmed. But he did come with a truth seeking heart, he saw the works the Lord did and was not blinded by hatred and Satan he knew they were of God. The Pharisees had built up a system in which they believed you earn righteousness over a life time, by doing works. The Lord said this to Nicodemus assaulting his belief, showing him that salvation is of faith alone. This is in reference to Numbers 21:4-9, the people spoke against God, so God sent serpents into the camp and bit the people, and the people who were bit died, so the people came to Moses and said they had sinned against God asking Moses to pray to the Lord on their behalf. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live’” Numbers 21:8). If you looked up by faith you were heeled and if you did not you died. So Christ was referencing this passage for Nicodemus, to bring understanding to this man who had great knowledge of the books of the law and prophets that salvation was by faith alone and that the object of that faith is the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, who would be raised up on a pole for all to see and if you look on Him with total belief you are saved from death, but if you look on Him with unbelief you will die.
What is the works that God wants from you? Jesus said: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). Many of you have sat in churches, in Sunday schools and may have even read the bible yet you don’t believe. “But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe” (John 6:36). Belief in Jesus Christ is not passé, it is all encompassing, it will take over your entire life, it is a full force diving in where nothing is left on the surface of the waters, if you believe in Christ you belong to Him, your life is no longer your own, it is His. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47). Jesus said: “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48). “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). That is a full force all in kind of faith, a belief that leaves nothing open, Jesus call us to consume Him, He calls us to an all consuming faith that takes over every part of your being. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you’” (John 6:53). The Bible says of God, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24). Don’t you think that believing in Him whom God sent is an all consuming fire as well?
For some this may have been the first time you have heard of God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ who takes away the sin of the world but for others this is a wakeup call. You can keep your life as it is but in the end you will lose it, but if you give it totally over to Him, you will save it. “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will find it” (Mark 8:35). For those of you who believe, who are the called of Jesus Christ, He says: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Tell people about Jesus, proclaim His name throughout the earth in every setting, no matter who is there, do not fear man and do not be swayed by popular opinion, He is the Lord and all is His. Salvation is His! Jesus said go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, that means all settings, all the time, no man, woman, or government should stop you, proclaim His name. Salvation is of the Lord! BELIEVE!
God be with you,
Mike Peek a slave of Jesus Christ
