Do you believe the title?
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Hebrews 11:6 Do you believe?
In today's text, the writer of Hebrews teaches that those who come to God must believe in two things. The first is, "Do you believe that God lives?" and the second is, "Do you believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him?" How would you answer these two questions? You can see three kinds of people reacting differently to this answer.
1. A person who answers "Nomen, I don't believe it."
There are many atheists in this world who do not believe in the existence of God. In Luke 16, we find the story of a rich man. This rich man wore a purple robe, worn only by those in power. He wore fine linen that only the rich could wear. And because I had power and money, I enjoyed every day in luxury. But this man was an atheist. They did not fear God, nor did they acknowledge God. He did not believe that there would be judgment after death.
However, as the years passed and he grew old, this man also died without any problems. When I died, I found out that there was a vagina. When his soul fell into hell and tormented in the flames, only then did he say, "Oh, I was wrong in the world! I was wrong!" and realized. But by then it was already too late. Regarding these atheists, Psalm 14:1 says: "The fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt and their deeds are abominable; there is no one who does good."
Anyone who says there is no God is a fool. That's stupid. As to the existence of God, our conscience testifies that God lives. Nevertheless, those who say there is no God are blocking their ears to the voice of their conscience. Or it is because your conscience is dulled and you don't feel it at all.
Also, if you look at the world of the created creatures of this world, you can know the existence of God the Creator. Even today, countless stars in the vast universe cry out to us. "I was made by God the Creator." In addition, many animals and plants that move with minute organs that humans cannot even imagine are calling out to us. “I, too, have been created with such fine detail by God the Creator.”
However, some of the smartest humans in creation say, "There is no God. This world was created by chance." Hearing this, all heavenly creatures and creatures laughed at such atheists and said, "Idiot! Idiot! I know there is a God..."
2. The person who replies, "Noamen, I believe in one thing."
'No Amen' is a word I coined and means neither nomen nor amen. This means that you may or may not believe it. In particular, those who believe that God exists, but do not believe that God is the one who rewards and blesses them. He is like Lazarus in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Lazarus believed in God, but did not know that God rewards and blesses him. He lived as a beggar all his life.
Last week a beggar came to our church. It was a figure that could tell at a glance that he was a beggar. When I asked, he was a Canadian Indian. As you all know, the lands of present-day Canada and the United States, which are the continents of North America, were formerly inhabited by Indians. Then a war broke out between the Indians and the whites over this vast land. In the end, the powerless Indians were deprived of this land.
And Canadians are giving Indians designated lands in their boroughs and rewarding them. So the Indians personally receive a monthly government subsidy. However, if they leave the designated Indian village, no subsidy will be given. That is, it is an isolation policy. It's inhumane. As a result, many of them are involved in alcohol, drugs, and crime. Even if you receive government subsidies, you will not be able to avoid being a beggar.
I gave the Indian beggar who came to our church a few pennies to buy food for me because I was pitiful. And when he saw a container of empty bottles in the front door of our church, he gave it to Dallas. However, this man thanked God over and over again and gave glory to God. And while memorizing Bible verses, he said that he also believes in God. In other words, I believe in God, but I live as a beggar.
It's like the beggar Lazarus in Luke 16. Lazarus was lying on his bed in front of the rich man's gate. I had boils all over my body, and the dogs came and slept with me and licked the boils. However, while lying in the dark, looking at the sky, sometimes I pray at dawn or all night. They serve God, but become beggars and eat the crumbs that fall on the rich man's table. Just ask that person. “Why do you believe in God and live as a beggar?”
His philosophy is as follows. "A person who believes in God should not love the world and material things. A person who loves wealth, glory, and resonance in this world is not a believer in God. Trying to be rich in this world will bring death to the soul. That is why I They give up everything and seek only God. They seek only God, so there is no material in the world. Those well-to-do believers are fools. Those who live like beggars like me are people who have the right faith."
Even today, there are surprisingly many believers who speak like Lazarus. That is, we believe in God, but we do not believe in a God who blesses and rewards us. If we talk about God who blesses and rewards us, we call it a belief in ups and downs. However, today's text teaches that we must believe not only that God lives, but also that God blesses and rewards us.
3. Someone who says, "Amen, I believe."
In Luke 16, in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, verses 23-24 say: “And when he was in Hades (the rich man was in Hades) in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham and Lazarus in his bosom from afar, and he called and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. .I am tormented in this flame."
Look at Abraham. He was not an atheist like the rich man in this world. I believed in God. And he was not a beggar like Lazarus. Rather, it was a huge rejection. When God called Abraham, he said that he would bless him and bless him and make him prosperous and prosper. Abraham was rejected because of his abundance of silver and gold and many herds of animals. Because God gave him the promised blessing.
He was a refusal, but he was also a believer in God. He was a man of faith and obedience who loved God more than his only son. He believed that God was alive, and he believed that God blessed him. And according to that belief, I was finally blessed by God. Abraham was blessed in this world and blessed in heaven.
The Bible often refers to God as 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'. These Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were people who not only believed in God, but also received God's blessing and lived. That is, I believed in both. Today's text teaches that our faith must also believe in both. I want to ask you guys. Do you believe in both of these? Let's follow along. "Amen, I believe."
But people say. "If God lives, why are there so many poor people who walk on the streets? If God lives, He must bless them all." This is the answer to this question.
In a slum in Chicago, USA, a pastor and a barber were walking down the street together. It was a very dirty and stinky environment where poor people lived around. The barber saw that and asked the pastor. "Pastor, if the God you testify of is really alive, why do you see these things and leave them alone? You have to help them and make them live."
“Is it true? Do you know why these people are so poor? They are poor because they do not come to God. If they had come to God and served God wholeheartedly, if they had sought the kingdom and its righteousness, everything would have been added. It is the same as not being able to come and have your hair cut, or if God does not help you because you do not pray earnestly and ask God.
In the Bible, the Lord said, 'It shall be done according to your faith.' God doesn't bless you. If you believe that living as a beggar is spiritual, you will do what you believe. However, if you believe that you are a God who rewards and blesses you, pay tithes to God, pray all night, and devote yourself to die earnestly to God, God will repay you according to what He promised and your faith.”
Ladies and gentlemen, although many people leave the church, they do not know that God is the one who blesses and rewards us. But today we need to know. You have to believe it. God is the God who blesses me and you in this foreign land. He is a good person who grants the wishes of the heart. I pray in the name of the Lord that by believing in these two things together, you will receive blessings in this foreign land, enjoy them, and share those blessings.
Prayer: God the living Father! Many people do not believe in a good God, a God who rewards and blesses us, but a God who is afraid, a God of ignorance, a God who does not know us, and a God who does not respond. But we certainly believe in a God who blesses and a God who rewards. Bless us who believe in these two things and prosper like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph in this foreign land. And let me share and give that blessing. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.