Disbelief

         I have my favorite programs that I use on my computer especially in the area of Bible Study. There are some very expensive programs on the market but I have used one free program for the past twenty or more years and it is called,”E-Sword.” I had an occasion to download a new version of the program and it is always set to open the first time on a particular passage of the Scripture which is John 3:16. Some have referred to John 3:16 as being the golden text of the Bible. The one verse says a lot and gives us the purpose that the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth. John 3:36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

       There is a contrast right at the last verse of the chapter. I have mentioned before that many refer to the Gospel of John as the Gospel of Belief. The word is mentioned some 70 plus times in this book alone. In the above verse, John uses a different word which results in the opposite of believing, which would be disbelieving. The word is almost always translated in the negative which ends up appearing as “disbelief.” The little letter, “a” at the beginning of the word changes it into “disbelief.” It is like saying, “You almost persuaded me to be a Christian, but not quite.” Sound familiar? The Apostle Paul was preaching to Agrippa in Acts 26:28 when Agrippa said that Paul “...almost persuaded” him to become a believer. He didn't quite make it at least from the evidence in this passage. John's Gospel depicts “disbelief” as not being obedient. What our lips say and our life says are sometimes not the same. They in fact can be just the opposite. If you have been around a church for any length of time, you begin to learn the words to say when someone asks you if you are a Christian. For the most part, no one in church will even ask you that question because you are in church and so you must have come as result of being a Christian. Praying Hyde was a missionary that would plant both of his hands on the shoulders of a person, look them square in the eye and ask them about their eternal destiny. If they were unsure, Hyde would have them on their knees praying the sinners prayer of repentance for their sins and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. John's Gospel present disbelief as being disobedient. I was in church much of my life even from being 12 years old. I was in the presence of the Gospel for many years but I was in my late thirty's when I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I recall a meeting in our home church in Alexandria, Virginia when an evangelist came down from the pulpit and was going through each row asking people about their salvation. I was sitting in the fifth row and was scared that he was going to confront me at that time, but he returned to the pulpit after about three rows and I felt relieved. I was relieved at that time, because I did not have the evidence in my life that I was a believer. In fact, I was disobedient to the Lord. Our families, our culture and our church often give us a false sense of security because in reality, we may not be truly born again. I would pray that this would not be the case in your own life. God knows your heart and so do you. You may be reasoning with the devil as he tries to convince you that you are doing it right, but in reality, you may be lost. Don't let your “unbelief” keep you from eternal peace with God. Turn your disobedience into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God today for His plan of salvation.