Who Can You Trust?

     These days, it's considered "politically incorrect" to share your faith. To say that Jesus Christ is the only way to God is "biased", "narrow-minded" and "bigoted". Shouldn't we be more tolerant to other faiths? Isn't there more than one way to get to heaven?
     If you are a new Christian trying to share your faith, don't let these obstacles hinder or discourage you. Remember that Jesus knows his sheep and they know him and they will follow. If they are his sheep, they will hear his voice.
     As for everyone else, just leave them in God's able hands. He will deal with them as he sees fit and perhaps bring them along the path to salvation at a later date (if they live long enough). You are not required to argue to convince anyone to accept the priceless gift of eternal life. If they have a zillion excuses why they don't want to believe in God or Jesus, move on to someone who has been searching for the truth.
     The Bible says what it says. It's right there in black and white. If it were not for those words of truth, we could not lay claim to salvation through faith in those words. But, those words were written for our edification so that we might know the truth, even hold it in our hands. If you read it, you'll know in your heart whether it is the Truth.
     In J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", Aragorn was trying to encourage Gandalf to have faith that Frodo was getting closer to Mordor to accomplish his mission. It was a stressful time and Gandalf asked,
     "Do we know that?" In answer to his wavering, Aragorn put the question to him,
     "What does your heart tell you?" It didn't take Gandalf long to know his own heart. He said,
     "That Frodo is alive. Yes. Yes, he's alive."
     Sometimes all it takes is a moment to listen to your own heart Take time to listen. Maybe it will take you a bit longer than Gandalf to get the answer, but, if you're patient, you will get a clear answer.
     I remember the first time after becoming a Christian that I heard mention of the story of Noah's ark. It made me laugh out loud! I thought it was a childish fable, made up to teach children the names of all the animals. But, my laughter was cut short by a stout look of scorn from a nearby elder brother.
     "If you're going to believe in the Bible," he said, "you've got to believe it from cover to cover."
     It was then that I realized I had a few preconceived ideas of my own that would have to give way to the truth. But, faith grows. It gets stronger, wider and deeper the more we swim in the refreshing water of his Word. Something you think is impossible or even ridiculous today will seem common knowledge tomorrow.
     Accepting Jesus as your saviour, master, king and the Lord of your life is just the beginning. Jesus himself said in John 3, verse 3,

     "Except a man(/woman) be born again, he(/she) cannot see the kingdom of God." and

     "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God." John 3:16 to 21 
      We, as Christian believers, have been given very clear and specific guidelines, put there for our safety by a loving and wise Father Who wants us to stay on the "straight and narrow path" all the way to his Kingdom. It's easy to get side-tracked. There are lots of bullies and liars out to get you when they see the light of joy on your face. There are lots of hands reaching out of the darkness to try to pull you down with them. That's why it's so important to stay in the Word and let the Word live in you.
     Stay in the Light and the darkness will flee.