Believing in Jesus is the only condition for peaceful heaven in eternity. As vague as that might sound, there is no compromise to entering heaven. Unbelief will be one of the critical things that will prevent unbelievers from entering God’s glorious heavenly kingdom.
Do you believe in God? Now is the best time to start trusting Him completely.
The dictionary says belief means an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof. It adds that belief is trust, faith, or confidence in (someone or something).
That is common and acceptable by many.
On the other hand, the same dictionary says unbelief is a lack of religious belief or an absence of faith.
It is fascinating that we can’t define unbelief without using the belief. But we can pray for God to help our unbelief. “If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18 )
The name of Jesus is the medium for our belief. How do we believe in it? We do it by being persuaded in his authority as Christ and God. Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Unbelief can affect our rest.
Hebrews 3: 18-19 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
The Israelites in the old are a prototype of the church and God. They were God’s chosen people, but they didn’t believe in his promise to protect and take them to the promised land. So many of them died in the desert, and several under the leadership of Joshua finally saw and entered it. (Joshua 1-24)
Heaven is the rest of God. Prophet Isaiah prophetically described this in Isaiah 57:2 “He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.” Only people who trust God will enter heaven.
Belief is a product of faith.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
God wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to please him with the way we live our lives. But we can only do that by having faith, which implies believing in whom he says he is. He reveals himself differently to everyone based on our revelation of him.
Hebrew 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” is the simplest definition of faith. If you continue reading till the end of the chapter, you will see the faith actions of several men and women of God.
God will not tolerate unbelief.
Romans 11:20-23 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud but fearful. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he would not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.
Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God can graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature and, contrary to nature, were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Using the tree’s symbolism, God revealed to Apostle Paul the gravity of unbelief. He expanded to compare Christians with unbelievers. There will be no negotiations or consideration in heaven. Only our sincere belief will take us to the throne of grace.
Unbelief can restrain Jesus.
Matthew 13:58 “And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”
It is widely accepted that nothing can stop the power of God. Yes, God’s power can flow anywhere and with anyone. But it can be restrained if the person(s) doesn’t understand and fully believe in God’s ability. It is a 50/50 agreement.
We have a role to play, while God has a role too. If we could do everything, then we would not need him. If he could do everything, too, he would not need us. We have a relationship. In this union, we all have our responsibilities.
How serious is unbelief?
Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
It is sad and inevitable that some people will not experience the glory of God. This is because God has given us all the ability to serve him.
1 Jn. 3:21-24, People who believe in the name of Jesus keep God’s commandments. Therefore, they are born of God
(1 Jn. 5:1-5; cf. Jn. 1:12-13) and have eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13; cf. Jn. 17:20-21; 20:31).
Do you believe in Christ? You can seek him now. It is not too late.
Go here for more godly posts.
