#133of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney

Before we get started, I wanted to wish all of the mothers out there a very happy Mother’s Day. I have had many women in my life who have been a mother figure. You have helped me through so many situations. I also want to thank the mother of my two children for the gift of life and being my partner all these years. And now, onto FaithBites.

It’s A Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Jesus

Imagine this: A father sends his only son to a planet far far away. His son looks like one of the people there but is not from there. He has incredible powers that amaze everyone around. He is looked to as a hero, a savior, their only hope. Some of you may say, that sounds a lot like Superman. He’s an awesome superhero. He’s my favorite by the way. But you also can’t help to see the passing resemblance to another hero of mankind: Jesus.

Now, look at the Bible. It’s a book thousands of years old. Written in languages most of us can’t understand. Fragments translated over and over again. Events written about God by man with their own biases. Strange magical events. Some that look like if a time traveler was there, it would easily be explainable.

Now, add the hype of the world. Social Media. 24 X 7 News. The Cult of Personality. It goes on and on and on.

It is so easy to look at this faith and believe in Jesus as a story. It’s a figment. It’s a legend passed down through the centuries. There is no God. We can’t prove any of this. People brought back from the dead? Healing of the sick? Food for thousands. Walking on Water. It’s all just too much. It’s all a lie. Or is it?

Faith isn’t something we can touch. It isn’t something that we can hold. We can’t prove it. We can feel it. We can live it. Playing Devil’s Advocate, I know funny when talking about the Bible, what if it was all a lie. Does it matter? If we live like the book tells us? Love God, Love People. What’s wrong with that? Nothing.

But we have a heavenly father. He has the power to do whatever he wants to. He made a covenant with the Jewish people. He fulfilled his prophecy is Christ, Jesus. We have been saved.

“For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” – Hebrews 10:14

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” – John 10:28-29

“neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:39

The Lord our God, give us Just the Facts. I was planning to write this faithbite before I heard our pastor’s sermon today. The funny thing was he talked about the Lord and that he gives us Just the Facts. No lies. No half-truths. The Lord tells us that he loves us. He tells us he will send his son to us. He did send his son to us. He wants us to be Christ-like. There are no lies in that. Our self-doubt, our sin, the world, and the devil try to get us to doubt this. God is eternal. His word is eternal. We have a better understanding of his word through science and faith. But God never changes. (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17).

What does this boil down to? God loves us. The world is sinful, but we are saved. Having faith in the unseen is not easy, but it is right. We need to remember the facts that God gave us and believe. The world tries to change our mind. Tries to make us question our beliefs, but he is eternal. He wants us to love him and his Son.

Even as I write this, I have doubts. I have that nagging sense that something can’t be proven. That maybe, just maybe I am being led astray. Then I think: if I love God and I love people, I can’t go wrong.

Do you know that God loves you? Do you know that his word is truth? Are you able to recommit yourself to the love of the Lord?

I strive to know and am able (with the help of God)