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It is not hard for me to believe the Bible. \u00a0 After all it claims to be God\u2019s word. \u00a0Either it is or it isn\u2019t. \u00a0I believe it is. \u00a0If you haven\u2019t investigated for yourself, you\u2019re making a foolish mistake. <\/strong><\/p>\n By investigating for yourself, I do not mean that you collect other men\u2019s opinions about it or you believe that whatever religious organization you belong to has the right idea about the Bible. <\/strong><\/p>\n Investigating for yourself means you have personally read the Bible, seeking honest answers, and asking God to show you the truth. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n You owe it to yourself and to your children because, if it is true, your soul and the \u00a0souls of your children are at stake. \u00a0\u201cWhat shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n A well known preacher, years ago, put it this way; “If you\u2019re a gambling man, you would figure that there is a fifty per cent chance that I\u2019m wrong about believing the Scripture. \u00a0If you choose not to believe and you\u2019re wrong, you lose your soul, for eternity. \u00a0If I choose to believe and I\u2019m wrong, I lose nothing. \u00a0I\u2019ve lived a good life with few regrets.” \u00a0Who do the odds favor in this situation? \u00a0Are you willing to gamble with your soul?<\/strong><\/p>\n The stakes are high; eternal life or eternal death. \u00a0The apostle Paul said, \u201cTo be absent from the body (for the believer), is to be present with the Lord.\u201d \u00a0Eternal life starts when one trusts Jesus Christ and His merit alone as one\u2019s only hope of salvation. \u00a0Eternal death is referred to in Scripture as eternal damnation or everlasting punishment. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Something that is eternal does not start and stop, it never ends. \u00a0If one leaves this life without security in Christ alone, there is no hope according to the Scriptures. <\/strong><\/p>\n Do you really believe this? \u00a0Have you warned anyone? \u00a0Have you warned your family, your friends, your neighbors, the people you rub shoulders with every day? \u00a0Do you live in such a way, that your life gives credibility to the message? \u00a0When a person truly believes something, it will show up in his or her life.<\/strong><\/p>\n In Luke chapter 16 there is an account that Christ gave about the rich man and Lazarus. \u00a0Just before He gave this account, Christ addressed the Pharisees as follows: \u201cFor what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.\u201d<\/em> \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n In accord with their keeping up of appearances, the Pharisees most likely regarded the rich man as blessed of God. \u00a0The plight of Lazarus as the down and out beggar surely disgusted them. \u00a0He was a sinner and God was his judge. <\/strong><\/p>\n The rich man fared well, dressed well and ate well. \u00a0Lazarus laid at his gate desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man\u2019s table. \u00a0Moreover, it says, the dogs came and licked his sores.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0Lazarus died and went to heaven (Abraham\u2019s bosom) while the rich man also died and was buried. \u00a0\u201cAnd being in torments in Hades <\/em>(hell), he lifted up his eyes\u2026\u2026..then he cried and said\u2026..send Lazarus that he may dip his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Abraham replied;\u00a0\u201c\u2026..between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The rich man then asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his father\u2019s house, because he has five brothers; \u201c\u2026that he, Lazarus, may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.\u201d<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n Abraham replied;\u00a0\u201cthey have Moses and the prophets <\/em>(Scripture); let them hear them.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n The rich man countered; \u201d\u2026but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n To which Abraham gave this final answer; \u201cIf they do not hear Moses and the prophets <\/em>(Scripture), neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n So what are you waiting for; a sign, some miracle, a voice from heaven?………..Why not just read the Bible?<\/strong><\/p>\n “For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”<\/em> \u00a0Hebrews 4:12<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is not hard for me to believe the Bible. \u00a0 After all it claims to be God\u2019s word. \u00a0Either it is or it isn\u2019t. \u00a0I believe it is. \u00a0If you haven\u2019t investigated for yourself, you\u2019re making a foolish mistake. By investigating for yourself, I do not mean that you collect other men\u2019s opinions … Continue reading What Do You Believe?<\/span>