What does it mean to believe in God?

To believe in God means living according to His Word

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

If you believe this, you will be at rest. Believing it does not mean that you sense it is like that or that you understand it to be like that. Having faith means that you build your life on God’s Word; you conduct yourself according to God’s Word and reckon that God, who has said it, guides everything and is a rewarder.

To believe in God means pleasing Him alone

“Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart …” Ephesians 6:5-8.

To believe in God is to conduct your life according to this Word. The person who wants to please people is never at rest, but if you believe that God rewards those who seek Him, you will be at rest. “Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord …” Ephesians 6:8. In other words, whatever people do means nothing to us who believe. Whatever good a person does, he will receive it again from the Lord. That ought to be sufficient for us who believe in God.

To believe in God means living before His face in the hidden

“Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Matthew 10:26.

“For we who have believed do enter that rest …” Hebrews 4:3. If you really believe in God, really believe that God is, and believe that nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, you will be preserved from all the evil to which you can be tempted. Then it is not difficult to do what is good in the hidden.

Live before God’s face! Demand nothing and expect nothing from people. If you do, the result will be only disappointment and strife. Live for God and “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6-7.

This is God’s Word. Having faith means you conduct yourself according to God’s Word by believing that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

When a person comes out of love and finds fault with his fellow men it is because he does not believe. As far as most people are concerned, their love grows cold when unrighteousness abounds. (Matthew 24:12) Their faith that God rewards those who seek Him, fails them. They no longer believe that all things work together for good to those who seek God or that everyone will receive again for the good he has done. Only those who are built up on their faith can be preserved in love.

You cannot be ready for Jesus’ return without being preserved in love. Tribulations are momentary and light for all those who believe. For them, tribulations work a far more and exceeding weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:17) Then we are ready.

This article has been translated from Norwegian, and is an edited version of an article first published with the title, “Believe that God is,” in BCC’s periodical “Skjulte Skatter” (“Hidden Treasures”) in December 1963
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