I recently had the privilege of attending the funeral of Bill Rapert; a good man who served as Sheriff and in law enforcement in our county for many years. The minister officiating his service recalled a story he heard from Bill about his law enforcement days. Bill was called out to the scene of what was essentially a standoff. One man was being held at gunpoint by another. The guy being held at gunpoint was the owner of the shotgun that was being pointed at him. As Bill approached the two men, the owner of the gun told him, “That is my gun, and it isn’t loaded.” The guy holding the gun emphatically replied that it was loaded and Bill better back up if he doesn’t want to be shot. The guy being held at gunpoint again reassured Bill that the gun wasn’t loaded. So, Bill began to approach the man with the gun and BOOM. The gun went off clipping his sleeve, snapping his belt, and filling his side with shot. The minister then expounded that when finishing the story, without a hint of a grudge or animosity, Bill simply said with a smile, “I believed the wrong guy.”
What we believe is important, because we make decisions and act on what we believe to be true. Behind every decision, big or small, is a belief of some kind. This is why the New Testament talks about the concept of belief so often when talking about salvation. It is about the nature of belief. If you believe that there is a heaven and a hell, if you believe that you are lost in your sin without intervention, and if you believe that Jesus is the answer to your problem then you will do what it takes to get to him. It is like the woman with the issue of blood, or the friends of the paralytic who was let down through the roof. They believed that Jesus was the answer to their problem. So, they did what it took to get to him and when they did, they found healing in Christ.
This is why Jesus made all those “I am” statements. “I am the good shepherd.” “I am the gate.” “I am the door.” “I am the bread of life.” “I am the way and the truth and the life.” He wants us to believe that he is where life and heaven is found so that we will act on it. It’s not that belief alone is the end goal, but if you believe, then you will do what you need to do out of your belief. He calls us to act, decide, and commit based on our belief in him.
It is a matter of life and death. The stakes are high, but we have every reason to believe him.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:25-26
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