John 6:61-65 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them."
I guess I am not a person to accept things without the background information or technical details. "Show me the Carfax" is just how I am. And I tend to bristle when I am told to just believe something without information. In those instances, I am just not "sold" on the validity of what I am told.
We live in a world that over the past twenty years has undergone a phenomenal change in the availability of information. What was once available in only the best of libraries and institutions of higher learning is now just a mouse click or a tap on the screen away. There is no doubt that the information revolution ushered in by advent of the internet has forever changed the face of information availability. In an instant we can look at the current weather in many parts of the world. We can search databases to find the most important or most obscure bits of information. We can even attend a class at many of the Ivy League schools all while never leaving the comfort of our own home. All of this information is at our finger tips. And yet the most important piece of information we need has been in printed form, freely available for hundreds of years. The answer to the big question of "Why Do I Believe?" is found in the bible. God's Word has held that answer for all to see in many languages and many translations. The are three simple truths to be found in scriptures that pertain to our question. From John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. From John 3:3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." And from John 3:5&6 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." I guess you could say Gospel of John in Chapter Three is rich in answers. We are born again in baptism. The water and the Spirit fundamentally change us. Baptism opens the door to a life in Christ that will profoundly change what we are and how we live. I am reminded of the words shared in our Baptism services at Grace Lutheran. We are blessed with the gifts of Faith, Family, and Forgiveness in the waters of Baptism. We come to the Father through Baptism. It is as simple as that. And Christ shows us the way for he is the way, the truth and the light.
When you ask that question, "Why Do I Believe?" you can now know the answer. It is because you have been baptized. It all starts with that one deliberate action. If you are reading this, and are baptized, you have your answer. If you are reading this and have not been baptized, go visit a Pastor and start that process. It's not rocket science and it is not difficult. It is the best gift you will ever receive. On that you do not have to trust me, you can see for yourself.
PRAYER: Lord we often go seeking the answer to life's many questions. This endless seeking of answers can distract us from You. Help us with Your Holy Spirit to stay on track. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus in all that we are and all that we do. Help us to be refreshed in our Baptism every day of our lives until we are joined with You. This we ask in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
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