“Why Do You Believe What You Believe?”

I remember the day my journey with the Lord began. It seems like yesterday when two born-again believers I worked with asked me a very simple question: “Rob, why do you believe what you believe?” To which my answer was, “I don’t know; I guess I was taught that way.”

As I stared into their eyes, I was deep in thought and they knew it. It was a question no one had ever asked me before, and my response was one of uncertainty. Of course, that immediately prompted their next question to me: “Rob, do you have a Bible at home?” To which my answer was, “Yes, I do.”

I’ll never forget that day because it was then I realized I had no idea if what I was taught was even true. I knew I believed in God and I believed the Bible was true, but I had no idea what it said. Was my belief about God simply because of what others had said, or was it because of what God’s Word says? 

Those were the thoughts running through my mind as I raced home after work and searched through my desk looking for the only Bible I had. It was a little red Gideon New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs I had received in fifth grade, and I found it at the back of my desk drawer. It was still like brand new, no wrinkles, no tears, no marks. It was just like the day I received it. 

As I picked up that little Bible for the first time to read for myself what God’s Word says, He would begin to teach me many things about Himself. Thus my journey began. Over the next little while, God drew me closer and closer to Himself and the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin and my need for a Savior, Jesus. 

Over the course of the next year I read and carried that Bible with me everywhere. It became so well read that its pages and cover literally needed to be held together with tape. God eventually led me to purchase my very first Bible (Old and New Testaments) and thus I continued to grow in Him.

Why We Need God’s Word

It’s been more than 20 years but I still have those first two Bibles. Every time I see them they remind me of that day when my journey with God began. Oh how powerful the Word of God is! It’s as Hebrews 4:12 says:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Without God’s Word, how could I truly know Him and His will for my life?

My story also reminds me of King Josiah, at the age of 26, when he began to repair the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 34:8). It was at that time that the Book of the Law of the Lord, given by Moses, was found (v. 14). As it was read to the young King Josiah, he tore his clothes (v. 19), for he knew that they had not kept the Word of the Lord. 

You see, without God’s Word, how could I truly know Him and His will for my life? How could I know that salvation was through Jesus and Him alone (John 14:6)? How could I know how to live before Him? How could I know the truth about creation, Israel, the Jewish people, and the days in which we live? How could I know all these things? 

The reality of it is, without the Word of God, we are left with every imagination of man’s wicked heart. There would be no absolute for truth, only confusion, as is evident with all the different opinions of the religions of this world. 

Without the Word of God, we are left with every imagination of man’s wicked heart.

Thus in John 4:24 we’re told that “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” I had not done that. I had not worshiped God in truth because my beliefs were based upon the teachings of fallible men. Jesus said in Matthew 15:9: “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

So we must turn to God and His Word for truth. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Also consider:

Psalm 119:9–11:

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 1:1–2:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lᴏʀᴅ, and in His law he meditates day and night.

2 Timothy 3:15–16

And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

One could go on and on with Scripture after Scripture teaching us the importance of God’s Word. But without reading it for ourselves and making a daily habit of spending time in the Word, we are missing out on the most precious time we can spend with God (Matthew 4:4).

Friends, do you value God’s Word? Many of us have multiple Bibles in our homes and, sadly, many of us spend little to no time in the Word. If that is you, why not refresh your walk with Jesus and read the greatest Book ever written—the Word of God, His gift to you and me! Blessings!

Romans 15:4

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

About the Author

Robert Gottselig

Robert is located in Regina, Saskatchewan and is the Canadian Director of FOI Gospel Ministry Inc. You can support his ministry online HERE.