This may just be too simple for folks but it is what it is… you believe when you notice the substance of that which you believe for is and is bearing the fruit of life.
Think of a stalk of corn. I can visualize it, I can imagine it, I can describe other corn I have seen, I can create such a fervor and desire for this stalk of corn that my body will react physically and cause saliva in my mouth and rumbling in my stomach. But the only evidence of a fully mature stalk of corn is its presence in the natural world including the full stalk tall and dripping with ears of corn. Every step along the way is simply an advent of time including the essential step of bearing fruit. Its not corn until its corn…yall.
None of what the bible has to say is worth two cents stacked against any other religion or philosophy ever expounded. It is just a book of stories and predictions… unless
What we have been talking about, things like faith as a substance and believing actually being a tangible state of being, provable and without contingent are true!
The hard and necessary truth is when our lives do not reflect the words promised and spelled out in the bible we are either developing away from that being state or developing towards that being state, but without question we do not fully believe.
Several very biblical concepts can become clearer with that one simple admission. If we can understand what it is to believe and admit we do not yet reflect that “state” we can see what it is to be sinful, a word which means “short of the mark”. We can know we need to repent, which includes a couple of concepts within itself, admitting the shortfall status of our current being, confessing this to God and expressing our desire to change toward belief of His truth, and finally acting on that desire. The most wonderful thing to remember when thinking of repentance is God’s Mercy and assurance gives us help to accomplish the task. He gave His Son and He continues to give His Holy Spirit.
In any case… the truth is this: If I believe, I reflect a state of… “being” that which I believe and the maturity of that state produces fruit. This is not a one trick show by any means. Jesus Christ is as beautiful and radiant as a diamond with a billion perfect facets. Our believing in Jesus Christ begins with our reflection of only some of those facets… our perfection is assured as a promise for when He returns.
So my message here? Don’t kid our selves on about belief. Pay attention and give attention to having faith in order to believe. And at the same time walk in the Mercy of God and don’t condemn when we notice a shortcoming. Repent, get busy, get some faith and believe.
