How to write this, say this, express this . . . .
Doubt is the sneaky sin, the unrecognized faith killer. If you believe in Jesus Christ and God’s power to raise him from the dead, you will be saved. Period.
You sinned. You did the wrong thing. You thought something dark and ugly. You judged another in your heart. You let some truly unedifying words come out of your mouth and let fly an unbridled tongue. You watched something you shouldn’t have. You broke a commandment.
Perhaps worse than all of that though, is the line of thinking that says heaven is no longer yours. You weren’t good enough for God’s eternal gift of salvation. Of course, not. No one is. It is impossible to earn, yet absolutely free to those who repent and believe.
But doubt says, even after you’ve repented, even after you’ve acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, that somehow, someway, it’ll all get taken away.
You didn’t go to church, so you must not be “Christian enough” to make it. You might have forgotten Jesus, your first love, or fallen away, but that doesn’t negate God’s power, his Holy Spirit of truth.
To think that somehow we can be responsible for “un-saving” ourselves even unconsciously, like somehow God is going to take it back, regret choosing us . . . that is the most depressing, terrible sin to fall prey to because it is like a thorn, choking the mustard seed.
And Satan, well, Satan loves this one. The devil can’t do anything against the child of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit. That child’s soul is already purchased. But Lucifer will do anything he can to feed doubt into the heart and mind.
God doesn’t change. He shows no shadow of turning. His character is good for all time and to all people. Our circumstances may not be good. But the circumstance doesn’t define God. Our human common sense (really, anti-faith folly) tells us we can’t trust because there is none trustworthy.
To doubt, is to call the God of the Most High a liar. We believe, but then there’s that evil, ungodly, what if? The father who begged Jesus to help his child had it right, “God, I believe you! But help my unbelief!”
Unbelief is doubt’s other alias. They are two sides to the same cursed coin. Jesus was always quick to point out the faith in the people for whom he performed miracles. Faith the size of a mustard seed moves mountains.
Plant and water the mustard seed in the garden of your life. Guard it. Keep it, and live in the freedom it promises.
Grace and Peace,
A.A. Wordsmith
Selah Vie! 