"Bue I believe..."

That is a statement that comes up often. “But I believe this that or the other.” The implication is that belief in something makes it right. And far too often we answer, “Yeah, but I believe this instead.” Once again, with the implication that our belief makes it so.

The truth is that what God said is what He said. And regardless of what we may believe, it does not change the truth. It does not change what God established, nor does it alter what God desires.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:25

Following God is not a matter of believing in something, and then sticking to it. It's a matter of seeing what way God says is right, then believing it. Our opinions, our thoughts, and our beliefs have no effect on what is righteous and true.

This does, of course, mean that we have to be able to understand what God says. I Corinthians 1:10-17 is one of several useful passages that show this. In this passage, Paul states that God wants His people to be united in mind and judgment. He goes on to explain that God does not want confusion and division among His followers. If God does not want His people confused and divided, if He wants His people to be united, then it must be possible to do so! And since our faith and obedience is based on the Bible (John 10:30-31, Romans 10:17), it must be possible to understand the Bible, and for everyone to understand it in the same way: the way God intended.

So, if we can understand what God says, then we can easily understand that my opinion and your opinion are largely irrelevant. What matters is what God says.

Let us not follow a faith of what I believe or what you believe, but rather follow a faith of what God says and wants. After all, isn't it better to follow the Lord than ourselves?

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

Psalm 118:8-9

Would you rather put your trust in what your opinion or belief is, or in what the Lord says? After all, we are merely men and women. We are frail, fallible things. God is not.

We must put away what we want to hold to. No matter how comforting a belief may be (“God wouldn't send anyone to hell.” “God is ok with little white lies.” “God won't mind if I skip services just occasionally.”), what matters is what God says (Matthew 25:31-46, Colossians 3:9, Hebrews 10:25, respectively).

Surely, we must believe and have faith. But our belief must be in line with what God wants. We must be sure that our faith is in accordance with God's word and will. Anything else is a faith built on shifting sands (Matthew 7:24-27). Anything else is putting confidence in man, and not trusting in the Lord. My belief does not make it so. Your belief does not make it so. What God says DOES make it so.