What Do You Believe? (And Will You Hold On To It?)

“Those who stand in the middle of the road get run over” – Joyce Meyer

Everyone believes something. However you might never know what you believe until what you believe is tested. The test might come in different ways. The threat of the loss of a job, the threat of the loss of our life or that of a loved one. No matter the method the threat comes in, it causes us to really think about what we say we believe. At that point we evaluate what we say we believe and we weigh the perceived consequences of holding on to that belief against the perceived benefits. If we believe the perceived consequences outweigh the perceived benefits, we stop holding on to that belief. We let go of the belief like a man letting go of something in his hand. Please note that I used the word perceived. The perception of the worth of a belief, the way we view it, would determine whether or not we hold on to it.

When I was younger I remember reading the story of the faith of a dying family which led to the conversion of another man. During one of the numerous wars of the 20^th century, a family was rounded up, a father, mother and two children. The father was given an option. Renounce his faith in Jesus or they would all be killed. A whole was dug in the ground by the soldiers and the family was placed standing in the whole and the soldiers began to replace the dirt. The children began crying as the dirt reached their ankles, then their waist then it got up to their necks. Just before the children got buried, the wife began shouting at the husband to recant. He shushed her and then began singing a hymn. The other members of the family joined it till they were all buried. One of the soldiers who took part in the act was so moved by the faith shown by the father and the rest of the family that he later gave his life to Christ. I assure you it’s a true story. I believe the soldier wrote a book about the experience that I read.

Sadly we probably think that we live in a world where those choices are no longer required. I think we need to have a rethink if that’s the way we feel. I recently read an article by Todd Starnes of Fox News. According to the article, a Christian organisation was referred to as a hate group and soldiers were told to report other soldiers who were sympathetic to the organisation. Sadly, I think it’s going to get worse. I believe that thanks to the perceived support they have received from the words of their commander-in-chief, some people now believe it’s open season on Christians and Christianity. I believe people who say they are Christians, not only in the army but in all walks of life are going to be tested regarding what they say they believe. And the perception they have about the belief they say they hold will determine whether they hold on to it. There will be no middle road.     

JC Cruz is the author of DECEPTIO published by WestBowPress, a division of Thomas Nelson publishers.http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU000194087/Deceptio.aspx and LOST, BUT FOUND available at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DPLLEUQ/. You can follow him @Cruz_JCReal