Do you believe this?

John 11: 25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

How often have you encountered something that sounds too good to be true? Many things we hear are too good to be true. Often we read in the news of someone who has lost money, property, or both to a con. With few exceptions (the one big exception I know of being the Gospel) if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

Lent is an interesting time. We are reminded, as believers, or our fallen nature. We are at times bombarded by the message of how sinful we are, and just how sinful the world we live in really is. We can be filled with despair by the messages that are heaped upon us. And buried in the pit despair is exactly where Satan wants us to be. Because if we feel we are lost, that there is no hope for us, then we are lost. Lent is a great season to bring out the humility in believers. It is also a dark time for believers. It compels us to accept who and what we really are. It requires us to conduct a vigorous self-examination of what we really are. And it requires of us to turn to the one who is the “resurrection and the life.” When we walk around with the perception that overall we are pretty good and do not sin too much, we fool ourselves. And if you recall from our confessional, the words “the truth is not in us.” Check out 1 John 1:5-7 for a more eloquent explanation of where the truth leads us.

So, my friends, what do you believe? Lent is the time to look deep into your hearts and assess what you really believe. Do you believe that you live a good, honest and clean life so there are no worries? Do you believe that you are a hopeless sinner and that you are truly lost were it not for the grace of God in Christ Jesus? Or are you on the fence believing a little of each of the above? Go ahead, think about this important question and honestly ask yourself what do you believe. John 11:25-26 compels us all to ask this question of our selves today, tomorrow, and everyday of our lives. The words of Jesus to Martha, sister of Lazarus, hold out the only hope we poor sinners have. "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”  These words are the basis of our faith and hope in Christ. With these words, we are saved. Without these words, we are lost. There is a question to ask of yourself, the same one Jesus asked Martha. “Do you believe this?”

PRAYER: Almighty God, we are prone to having a good deal of foolish pride. We are often of a mind that we are righteous of our own doing. We can forget that we are truly and completely lost, without Your grace poured out for us on that terrible cross. Help us to remember our true condition. Help us to remember that You loved us so much that You gave Your only Son to die for us on that cross. Fill us with the faith to hold on when we have our doubts. This we ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.