Troubles and challenges happen in our lives. There are times when we are pushed to our limits. What happens we don’t understand. What occurred we cannot forget. What we experienced; we can never erase from our minds.
I believe in Christ because true faith and belief relieves us from the burdens and worries of this world. Christ cleanses our hearts and minds and provides us the true character and foundation to influence our perspectives of the world and the guidance as to how we are supposed to live.
The Bible has story after story where characters in the Bible did not follow God’s will and they suffered great tragedies and heartache. There are other characters in the Bible who endured some of the greatest challenges ever imagined, they maintained their faith in Christ, and prevailed. The word of God provided them the direction, rest, and character to endure their situation.
Psalms 15 is five verses long and is packed with direction and wisdom.
The Character of Those Who May Dwell with the Lord
A Psalm of David.
1 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
There are many prominent figures in the Bible who endured unimaginable circumstances yet maintained their faith and character.
- Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery and spent years as a prisoner in Egypt; forgave his brothers and spared their lives (Genesis 39-47)
- King David, conquered Goliath, ran for his life from King Saul, escaped from his son Absolom who attempted to kill him (1 Samuel 17; 1 Samuel 24; Psalms 69:14-16)
- Job, devout to God but his entire family was killed at the hands of God (Job 1:13-19)
- Apostle Paul, former Jewish leader and murderer of Christians, converted from Judaism to Christianity and wrote 13 books in the New Testament
The Bible provides us guidance and directives how we should live. God never promised a life of no pain and challenges in this world. What Jesus taught us is that the more we search for meaning and understanding in this world, the more we will be uncertain and frustrated. Life on earth will not satisfy us nor make us happy.
I believe in Christ because I know that our life here is temporary. The eternal life that we will live in Heaven, because of belief in the risen Christ, will provide us unimaginable happiness and joy. Heaven should be our goal. This life is our test and challenge.
I have witnessed friends, acquaintances, family, and people I have never met, because of their faith in Jesus Christ, endure indescribable circumstances. Faith in Christ provides a “peace beyond human understanding.” Their pain is unimaginable, their disappointment is open to the world, and their failure is public for everyone to see. Yet, in spite of their circumstances, they persevere and press on with honor and character due to their faith on Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father. Please wash over us with your grace and peace. Thank you for sending your son Jesus, to suffer and die for our salvation. Please help us turn to you in times of need and live with the character that you have demonstrated for us. Amen
