Meaningless Words

The more I talk to people and listen to other people, the more I realize that real communication has become almost impossible. Two or more people can be speaking the same language, but still totally misunderstand what each other are saying.

For instance, when Barack Obama told us that he would bring “Real Change”, everyone understood “Real Change” in their own way. Now that we see the change that the president was proclaiming, most of us will agree it wasn’t the change we understood it to be. Many politicians will use many words in their speeches that have many meanings or have relative meanings, so depending on who is hearing it, it will be taken the way the listener wants to take it.

Words have almost become meaningless. Take the word “believe.” What does “believe” mean to you? Is it something you can accept? Is it something you can understand? Is it something you can touch or see? Does it represent what you experience? Is it something you have because of tradition or family practices? Is it something you were taught in school by others which have a certain belief, so you go with the crowd? To believe, does it have a cost, or is it always free to believe? To believe something, are you required to act on that belief, or can we say we believe without taking any action on that belief? What does the word “believe” mean to you, does it have a different meaning to you other than what I listed? In our world the word “believe” has become almost worthless, because it has become a relative term.

Another word that is confusing is the word “love.” The word “love” is also relative in meaning and we have almost made this word meaningless. It was such an important word at one point, but because of its misuse, it is almost a worthless word now. We can love our shoes, a car, or a house. We can love our pet ant, a tree, a cat, or a dog. We can love our son or daughter. We can love our girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, or same sex mate. When we say we love our spouse, are we saying we love them like a car, or maybe a dog, or maybe like one of our children? I can say I love my neighbor or my neighbor can say he loves me, but what does that mean? The neighbor might often kick his dog that he says he loves; does he love me like that? I just don’t know.

“Obey” is another word that has become a relative term. Even though we don’t hear or use this word as much anymore. It has kind of become a dirty four letter word. When we “Obey”, is it only something we do when someone is watching? Is it something we do when it only benefits us? Do we do it because we feel we have to or because we want to? Are there consequences to not obeying, or is obeying an option with no consequences or blessings attached to do it? Did you have to obey while you were a child to receive the blessings of your parents, or did they bless you anyway even when you didn’t obey? Do we feel we need to obey a higher power, or are we the higher power that others need to obey? Maybe you feel you need to obey, or maybe obeying is for people lower then you?

The word “Lord” has also seemed to become another four letter forbidden word, because almost no one wants to have anyone be Lord over them, because they want to be in control of their own lives. Many people want Jesus Christ to be their Savior, but the Lord part is just too much to ask. So the word “Lord” hasn’t been used much anymore. In essence, it has been made an optional part of the Gospel.

So, when I say to people that God’s word says Jesus Christ must be the “Lord” of our lives by “loving” Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, they really don’t have a clue of what I am saying, because the words have been made worthless. These words have been made so relative that people can make it mean what ever they want it to mean.

When I tell people that God’s word says that a person must “believe” in Jesus Christ to be saved and be born again spiritually through this “belief” in Christ, they really don’t have a clue of what I am saying, because the words have been made worthless. These words have been made so relative that people can make it mean what ever they want it to mean.

God’s word says if we “love” Him, we will “obey” Him. What does this really mean? What does it mean to you?

It has really come to the point where:

2 Tim 4:3-4 - For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. NIV


Michael W Reid

What is meant by “believe in Him”

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

So who are the ones that have everlasting life – the people that believe in Jesus Christ. So the real question is – what does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ. I will try to explain the answer to this question in the most direct and biblical way.

Most people think it means - to believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the 2nd identity in the Trinity, and that He died on the cross for our sins. The devil and all the demons believe this also – so why aren’t they all saved? If this is the extent of your belief – you are still headed to an eternity in hell.

Everybody has beliefs in someone or something and as a result of those beliefs, we all act on what we believe. If we believe in our ability to reason out what is best for us and others, we will then act on our own reasoning over the truths of the Bible. If we believe in money and material things to sustain us and make us happy, we will then act on making and producing as much financial wealth as possible. If we believe in our own reasoning and/or financial wealth – then anyone that gets in the way of reaching our goals in these areas of belief will be trampled down under our feet so that they will be removed as an obstruction to our goals and beliefs. Anyone that believes this way is of the devil and not of God.

Belief in Jesus Christ is when you believe in Jesus as your Lord and forsake any human reasoning that contradicts the Word of God. When we truly believe in Jesus as our Lord, we in essence become a slave to His truth and ways. We believe the Bible as our road map to eternal salvation with Him. We no longer act primarily on our human reasoning and emotions, but primarily act on God’s Word and His Spiritual leadings.

If we say we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but do not act on His truths, we are a liar and the truth is not in us. If we believe in something – we will always act on that belief if we really believe it. If we don’t act on what we say we believe – then we really don’t believe what we are saying.

Through a true belief in Christ, we must love Him above all others and/or things in our life, otherwise we cannot be His disciple.

Luke 14:26-27 - If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Anyone that does not love God more than anyone else or anything else in their life – will not be worthy of receiving Him.

Matt 10:37-39 - Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind is not an option – it is a requirement.

Matt 22:36-39 - Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment.

If we truly believe in Jesus Christ, we will obey His Word and all His commandments. After we truly believe and act on that belief by being totally obedient to His commandments – then we will receive Jesus’ Spirit – “the Spirit of truth”.

John 14:15-17 - If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth.

If through our total belief in Christ we end up obeying every teaching of Christ – we then have the Spirit of God and Jesus come live with us forever. If we don’t obey His teachings – then we have not believed with our heart and will not become a home for His Spirit and in turn will not be worthy of entering an eternal life with God.

John 14:23-24 - If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

A relationship with God has become a possibility to everyone through Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins, but what you do with that relationship is your choice. You can come to a total belief and love for God and be saved unto eternal life or you can decide to reject God’s great gift of grace by rejecting even a portion of His love - because of a lack of belief in Him (faith). If you end up rejecting any of His truth and/or commands – then that shows that you don’t really believe in Jesus Christ and you will not be worthy of His eternal life. You have your whole life to come to this total belief. The question is - will you submit to Jesus Christ as Lord and when will you die?

You can tell when you have come to this total belief (faith) in God when you stop sinning. Sinning is when you have been brought to a knowledge of God’s ways and commandments by way of His Word and/or His Spirit and then you decide to reject that knowledge of God and do what you think best instead.

Because of the fact that we all act on what we really believe – then every time you knowingly sin – you are really saying to God that you don’t believe in Him and His ways. When you sin, you are really believing in your own self and not God. When you sin, you are still putting yourself and your own understanding and reasoning above God’s Word. When you sin, you are rejecting God by depending on yourself and not totally depending on God’s Word and all His promises. When you sin – you are simply saying that you don’t believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ.

God demands a total belief and love for Him. Anything falling short of this will condemn us to an eternal life in hell.

God’s servant – Michael Reid

Does Salvation Really Cost Me Everything?

Anyone can become a believer of Jesus Christ by just having a little belief in Jesus, but the cost of being born again into Jesus’ kingdom will cost a person everything, but after being born again they realize what they gave up was worth nothing anyway.

When we believe in Jesus with 10% faith, that 10% faith will help us grow in faith to a 20% belief, and 20% faith grows to 30% and so on. But there is a point where we have to let God bring us to 100% faith in Jesus Christ, where we commit all of our self as a living sacrifice for God’s work and glory. If we never reach this 100% faith in Jesus Christ, we will not be reborn into His kingdom. See the scripture below to see what happens to a person that won’t give 100% of his life to Jesus Christ.

Matt 19:17-24 - Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

This rich man was not willing to give 100% of everything he was or had. This man could not give it all up for Jesus, because he relied on his possessions to sustain him, he would not give it up to have 100% reliance on God. Anyone who is like this rich man of this parable will not be born again and cannot enter the kingdom of God.

So how can anybody believe and give 100% in faith to Jesus Christ? It is through the workings of God’s Spirit that is in us to bring us to the point of 100% faith. It is impossible for us, but with us letting God’s Spirit have control of our lives, He will make it happen. Nothing is impossible with God, we just have to humble ourselves and let him change us.

Coming to the point of being born again into God’s kingdom is really a revelation that God gives us through His Word and Spirit to see how priceless and righteous His kingdom is. When we realize that His kingdom is more valuable than anything we can keep for ourselves here on earth, we will give everything for the gift of salvation into His kingdom.

Matt 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Matt 13:45-46 - "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Is this how you see God’s kingdom? Are there any earthly things you have worth more than God’s kingdom? Are you willing to give your whole self as a living sacrifice to God in order to be in God’s kingdom?

In the kingdom by His Grace
Michael Reid