Conspiracy Theories or the Truth?

 

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

The rise in new cases of coronavirus in several parts of the country, and more abroad, is a real concern. It makes you wonder if some people don’t really believe that the virus is so infectious, or they don’t really believe the authorities' advice and instructions or do they just neglect to put it into practice so that many others are infected?

We have been told how infectious the virus is and how simple things like hand washing, keeping a distance from others, and wearing a face mask can reduce the spread. We have faith in the experts. We trust their advice. Most people rely on it and practise it, but a few don’t!

Most of the time in everyday life, we believe what people tell us. We trust people when they do things for us, such as preparing our food or supplying our water. We have faith in them. If it’s to go somewhere, say on a bus or a plane (but maybe not just now!), our faith progresses like this.

• We believe in the information about the destination, the route, and how the system works. Believing all about it, we accept as true what we are told before we go.

• We believe in the driver's ability or the pilot to do what they are there for. We believe in them, in their skill and integrity, and in the transport's reliability to take us there. We trust them to do what they promise.

• Finally, we step on board that bus or plane. We have made up our mind to commit ourselves to the one in charge to do what we cannot do for ourselves. If you don’t take this last step, the driver or pilot cannot take you to your intended destination. You could stand and wait, even debate and discuss it, but the benefit will only be yours after you decide to take that step. 

Similarly, many people believe in the information about Jesus Christ. They accept as true what they have learned about Him, for there is plenty of evidence to go on. John wrote his Gospel (20.31) “so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing we might have life through His name.”

We can believe in Him as a good person to admire and listen to, One who loves us so much that He died on a cross to save us and rose from the dead to give us eternal life. But to receive that “life through His name”, it is necessary to believe on Him. 

Trust Him to do what He promised.  Rely on Him to take you to heaven. Take that deliberate step of faith, committing your soul into His safekeeping. A well-known verse from the Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16.31).

 
More than believing about Him, believe in Him and on Him.
 
All my iniquities on Him were laid,
All my indebtedness by Him was paid
All who believe on Him, the Lord has said,
Have everlasting life.
 
[ from the hymn that begins - Oh what a Saviour that He died for me ]   

     
That’s how God’s amazing grace deals with life’s biggest problem. As for life’s other problems - the uncertainties, fears, troubles and difficulties which come along and seem too big for us, He wants us to keep trusting in Him. We can always rely on His love and care, for He will see us through whatever comes our way.
 
In Psalm 56.3 we read, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in You”,
and in Isaiah 12.2, “I will trust and not be afraid.”
 
Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all.
 
Singing if my way be clear, praying if the path is drear;
If in danger, for Him call; trusting Jesus, that is all.
 
Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall, trusting Jesus, that is all.
 
Trusting Him while life shall last, trusting Him till earth is past,
Till within the jasper wall; trusting Jesus, that is all.

Used by permission of Bert Cargill, Scotland

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