Do you really believe.?
During a visit to Israel the Holy land, I came across several landmarks, cities and significant locations that made my convictions to grow deeper in believing the accounts recorded in the bible. We went from one remarkable land mark to another, it was seeing the Bible in 3D.
As we disembarked from the tour bus following the leading of our tour guide, I could take in the fresh air while looking and scanning over the large expanse of land. From the vantage point where we finally stood, I could see all the mountains and hills and the valleys in between them. Some of them I believe had Streams and tributaries running at its base.
Our guide pointed to us what looked like a trail, and he said that it is believed to be the very Road that leads to Emmaus where the risen Christ appeared to His disciples and had a long conversation with them. As our Tour guide continued given historical account and pointing to significant landmarks, my mind went straight to the scriptures where this event took place.
This has been a scripture I have often meditated on to examine myself and ask the question “Do I really believe all that I have been told?” What if I was amongst those who walked that road when there were several reports about the messiah who was crucified and we all saw him buried? Would I have concluded it was a conspiracy theory, or in today’s world fake news? Will the reports of the fact checkers influenced me to doubt?
I have equally looked at what those gentlemen said in verses 18 to 21 – Luke 24. (KJV)
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19. And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20. and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21.But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
They claimed that they trusted that he was going to deliver them, yet when the good news of His resurrection came they didn’t believe it. To them it was just overzealous and outrageous news from some of their fellow disciples. Today, we would have called them names “Busy Bodies, Too Religious folks, Holier than thou” for daring to say the Lord appeared to them with a message.
Looking at what the Lord said to them while he sat at the table to have a meal with them goes to confirm that many of them if not all did not believe in Christ’s resurrection. Mark 16 vs 14:
“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.”
This was where the very great commission was given to them in the 15th verse to go and preach this Good News to every creature, peradventure any one who hears the Good News and believes it, we will receive eternal life .
Mark 16 vs 15 – 16:
15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Let this same mind be in you that as the scriptures have told us to be mindful and be ready for the coming of the Lord is near. Do you believe that to live and act accordingly or do you think it is one of such fanatical statements that should not be taken serious. Ask yourself, “do you really believe the Lord is come soon?” Next is “Are you ready?”. God bless you.
