“For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.' For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years?

Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.”

Hebrews, Chapter 3, vs 14-19 ~

Unbelief is a very, very dangerous thing. This applies on 2 levels:

First ~ No one will enter heaven if they do not believe: Believe in God the Father and Jesus His Son, whom He sent to suffer and die in our place for our sins...who was then resurrected on the 3rd day and now sits at the Right Hand of Almighty God.

This is everything. It is the difference between heaven and hell. I always say:

“It is not a question of IF people will live forever – we were created for eternity. It is a question of WHERE we will live forever.”

Second ~ For the believer in Jesus Christ, we would be lying if we said we never, ever doubt. Doubt is unbelief. Now, I do not think that if we doubt, we sacrifice salvation. So then what is the message for us in this instance?

Doubt is still sin. In Heaven, when we are perfected, doubt will not be. This shows us that doubt is not of God, and therefore sin. Doubt is unproductive towards favorable results. Doubt always places us at the effect of life and flesh and sin. It causes us to take back our will and do what “feels” or “seems”right, even if it is contrary to God and faith.

Obviously, to the unbeliever, I would say:

“Please, repent (turn back to God) today! Start looking to Jesus Christ, our Savior, and forsake your sin! Start reading the bible and learn what is sin, as well as what is pleasing to this Jesus who suffered so, for you specifically! God loves you, and so do I. Please, come to Jesus and beg for Him to save you by His grace...

“Buddha won't save, Krishna does not save, Allah does not save, and Mary will not save. Jesus is the only name under heaven by which people can be saved! (John 14:6, Acts 2:21, 4:12). I beg you, believe in Him today, and in Him alone for your salvation.”

But to we who already believe, I would say: “Practice your faith that it would strengthen and grow. It is an easy thing to believe when you are not challenged by life. The trials? The sufferings? These are things that happen to everyone...but to those of us who say ‘I am a Christian,’ these are opportunities to practice faith. By practicing your faith, exercising it and disciplining yourself by it, our faith grows and is strengthened. And eventually we will overcome doubt completely.”

It is an amazing thing to say that in His death and resurrection, Christ supplied us with everything we need to completely overcome life's troubles and sin. It is an even more miraculously amazing thing when we actually apprehend this promise for ourselves and begin to walk it out in the face of life's adversities, and see that it is true! We may not attain to the fullness of God’s promise this side of eternity. But we can grow in grace and faith!

Love, Chris