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Re: What Is It To Believe?
In order to be effective in one's endeavor to escape the wrath of God, belief
would have to contain the elements of confidence and reliance. For example:
● Matt 9:27-30 . . As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him,
calling out: Have mercy on us, Son of David! When he had gone indoors, the
blind men came to him, and he asked them: Do you believe that I am able
to do this? Yes, Lord; they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said:
According to your faith it will be done to you. And their sight was restored.
So then:
● John 3:14-17 . . As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in him have
eternal life.
(The incident to which Jesus referred is recorded in Numbers 21:5-9)
Long story short: Moses' people became weary of eating manna all the time
at every meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning
their divine benefactor for a different diet, they became indignant and
confrontational; angrily demanding better accommodations.
In response to their insolence, and their ingratitude for His providence; God
sent a swarm of deadly poisonous snakes amongst them; which began
striking people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions.
After a number of people died, the rest came to their senses and begged
Moses to intercede. In reply; The Lord instructed Moses to fashion a replica
of the snakes and hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying
from venom could look to it for relief.
The key issue here is that the replica was the only God-given remedy for the
people's bites-- not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church
attendance, not scapulars, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not
the Sabbath, not rosaries, not weeping, not the golden rule, not charity, not
Bible study, yeshiva, catechism, and/or Sunday school, not self denial, not
vows of poverty, not the Ten Commandments, nor even one's ideology of
choice, i.e. it wouldn't have mattered whether somebody was Muslim, Hindu,
Jew, Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant, Baha'i, Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan, or
whatever-- the replica was it; nothing else would suffice to save their lives.
As an allegory, the replica speaks of Christ's crucifixion for the sins of the
world as the only God-given rescue from retribution and perdition; and when
people accept it, then according to John 3:14-17 and John 5:24, they qualify
for a transfer from death into life.
FAQ: How might one go about looking to Jesus like those folks back then
looked to that replica?
REPLY: I recommend RSVP.
Find a quiet place; anywhere will do. Cover you face with your hands for a
sense of connection, and tell God-- under your breath or out loud if you like
--in your own words that you have never yet measured up to His standards
and you're pretty sure you never will. Tell Him you would like to take advantage
of His son's death to protect yourself from judgment.
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