Believe

Believe

                “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Preschoolers can recite it, and football fans paint it boldly across cardboard signs near the end zone. It’s brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to withstand 2,000 years of storms and questions. It begins with God, ends with life, and urges us to do the same. If you know nothing of the Bible, begin here. If you know everything of the Bible, return here.

The context of John 3:16 began with a silent figure moving secretly through the darkened streets of Jerusalem. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, one of the religious elite who militantly rejected Jesus. So when Nicodemus decided to seek Christ out and to learn from him, he had to do it under cover of darkness. Slipping through alleyways and dimly lit streets, Nicodemus finds his way to a simple house where Jesus and his followers are staying. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” (John 3:2)

Without hesitation, Jesus replies, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Now, I’m not sure what was on Nicodemus’ mind that night, but it’s clear what was on Jesus’ mind. And Christ’s exposition on salvation reaches its climax in the sixteenth verse: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In this one verse, we see the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it starts with two simple words, He loves.

And if those words are true, it changes everything, doesn’t it? Imagine what the world would be like without God’s love – a dark planet hurtling through space without direction; no hope; no future; nothing for which to live; no greater purpose to its inhabitant’s existence. Every death would be an end. Every grave a place of despair. But God loves the world. We see it in every sunrise and sunset, every blade of grass, every birth, and every child’s face. For God so loved the world.

Lots of kids these days watch the Veggie Tales cartoons. In fact, we even used it as the curriculum for our Vacation Bible School a few years ago. But, in case you’ve been living under a rock, it’s a show with computer-animated vegetables that tell Bible stories. (I know, I know. It sounds a little weird) It’s one of those Sunday morning values, Saturday morning fun shows. And at the end of every episode, Bob (he’s a tomato) says, “Remember kids, God made you special, and he loves you very much!”

Isn’t that the message of John 3:16? And isn’t that the message the world needs to hear? That God made you special and that He loves us so very much. That’s the message George Matheson needed to hear. He was only fifteen years old when he was told that he was losing what little eyesight he had. Not to be denied, however, George continued with his plans to enroll at the University of Glasgow.

George’s determination led to his graduation in 1861 at the age of nineteen. But by the time he finished his graduate studies, he was completely blind. Nevertheless, his spirit didn’t collapse – that is until his fiancée returned his engagement ring. She said she couldn’t see herself spending her life bound by the chains of marriage to a blind man. So, George adapted to life without sight, but never fully recovered from his broken heart.

Years later, as a well-loved pastor in Scotland, George’s sister came to him excitedly announcing her own engagement. He was happy for her, but his mind went back to his own heartache. He was consoled by thinking of God’s love – unlimited and never conditional; certain and never withdrawn. And out of this experience, George penned these words: “O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.”

The Bible says, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) On this, Max Lucado remarked, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart....” He loves.

And because he loves, he gives. Jesus said, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.…” Just to say “I love you” doesn’t really mean a whole lot sometimes, does it? That’s why love, agape, is a verb – an action word; it’s something that has to be tangibly demonstrated. It has to be proven – God’s love included. The Bible says, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

That sounds so strange to some. So many people in the world respect the teachings of Jesus, and admire his example. But no matter how they turn it around, they can’t see any significance in his death. One man even said, “That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t need God to give anyone for me,” he claimed. “I’ve led a good life. Held a good job. People respect me. My wife loves me. I don’t need God to give me his son.” Maybe you agree. But are we really as good as we think we are? Here’s a little test:

1. "You shall not steal." Have you ever stolen anything? a paper clip, a peanut? Well, if so, that makes you a thief.

2.  "You mst not lie." Those who claim they never have just did.

3.  "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." Ever let God's name slip past your lips in anger or frustration? The Bible calls that blasphemy.

4.  "You shall not commit adultery." Now, before you start congratulating yourself on that one, remember that Jesus said if you so much as look at a woman lustfully you've committed adultery in your heart.

            And that’s just four out of ten.

We could keep going, of course, but – honestly – I don’t think we’d do any better. I believe that most sincere people, if we’re completely honest, know that we’re really not all that good. We all have regrets. We’ve all made mistakes. The Bible calls that sin. And we do it all the time. In fact, if you’re still on the fence about all this, the Bible tells us that, “Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23) That’s everyone. And our sin separates us from God. So, if any of us are ever going to have a real relationship with our Creator, then it’s up to him to find a way to reconcile us. That’s where Jesus comes in. He determined to build that bridge with an old, rugged cross. He gave himself. He gave Jesus to bring salvation to the world through his death.

In John 3:14, Jesus alludes to an event in the Old Testament. It’s a story that’s told in Numbers 21:4-9. It’s a story of sin. The children of Israel – God’s special people – had rebelled against God, so God sent poisonous snakes that bit the people and many of them died. But it’s also a story of grace. Moses interceded for the people and God provided a remedy. He told Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it up on a pole for everyone to see, and anyone who had been bitten who then looked at the serpent would be healed immediately.

And we’re in a similar situation. The whole world has been bitten by sin, and the “wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) Just as the serpent was lifted on that pole for the people to look to for healing, Jesus was lifted on a cross for us to look to for our healing. God sent his Son to die, not only for Israel, but for the whole world. Although God’s remedy for snakebite was sufficient for all of Israel, it was only effective for those who "looked upon the serpent." And although God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient for the whole world, it is only efficient if we believe.

Jesus said that God “gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish…” But this concept runs contrary to our instincts, doesn’t it? The problem, it seems, is that it’s way too simple. We expect a more complicated cure, a more sophisticated salvation. Right? Just like that Bible verse that says, “God helps those who help themselves”? (Sorry to disappoint, but that’s not really in the Bible. It’s actually a moral from one of Aesop’s fables) But no other religion offers what Jesus promises. Judaism sees salvation as a Judgment Day decision based on morality. Buddhism grades your life according to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Muslims earn their way to Allah by performing the duties of the Five Pillars of Faith.

But not Christianity. Jesus calls us to do one thing: believe! Listen to what the Bible says: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18) “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36) “I tell you the truth, whoever believes has eternal life.” (John 6:47) “Then he brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.’” (Acts 16:31) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8)

But you’re thinking, “What about baptism, or repentance and that changed life stuff? Are you saying those things aren’t necessary?” No, I’m not. But baptism, repentance, and a changed life are not in addition to faith – they are expressions of it. They are acts of faith that work together with our belief to make our faith real. What Jesus wants us to see is that it’s not because of what we’ve done, but because of who he is. And it’s not because of who we are, but because of what he’s already done! All he asks is for us to put our trust in him, and him alone. God rewards those who seek him, not those who seek a doctrine, or a system, or creeds. Jesus died so that we could have a relationship, not a religion.

And the reward is that when we believe, we live. “Whoever believes in him,” Jesus said, “shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Although people sometimes imagine spending eternity in the clouds, floating around and strumming harps for eternity, that’s not really the Biblical picture of Heaven. The Bible describes Heaven as a place that will have rivers, trees, cities, buildings, gates, streets, mountains, and houses. (Revelation 21-22) Although its glory will be beyond description, its essential components will be similar to what we have now. Paradise lost will be paradise restored. It will be a world of beauty and grandeur; a paradise as God originally intended.

Perhaps the most amazing thing in heaven will be our intimate relationship with our Maker and Redeemer. In Heaven, the Bible says, “God’s presence is with his people and he will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and will be their God.” (Revelation 21:3) We won’t need to be drawn into God’s presence. We’ll live there, constantly and consciously. And our restored relationship with God will offer infinite possibilities, and the more we come to know him, the more there will be to know.

He loves. He gives. We believe. We live. It’s really that simple. God loves this world more than we’ll ever know. He gave his one and only Son so that we could forever live with him. Apart from him we die. With him we live. Choose life. Choose Jesus.

Choose well.

Grace,

Randy