Dave White

You might have heard of the word believe. To believe means: to have confidence in the truth, the existence or the reliability of something; although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so. Only if one believes in something, can one act purposefully. To believe has many synonyms: to accept, consider, regard, suppose, understand, trust, rely on. One can believe in anything really; their favorite sports team, a politician, a parent, their favorite movie star or that Bigfoot exists.
Now, take it one step further. What does follow mean? To go or come after; move behind in the same direction; to accept as a guide or leader; accept authority or give allegiance to. To conform to, comply with or act in accordance with. To imitate or copy; use as an example. Some other words for follow are: to pursue, accompany, seek, act in accordance with, to serve, support, imitate, obey, harmonize.
Now a follower must also believe but a believer doesn’t necessarily always follow. What would you rather follow? Something temporary and flawed like a person or an object? Someone who could let you down? Or would you rather believe and follow the One who is eternal, unwavering, a bit mysterious, full of understanding, One who walked in your shoes, One who is everywhere and knows all, One who will not let you down?
I don’t know about you but I’d rather go with the latter. Despite what you have heard about Jesus Christ or Jehovah (AKA God – with a capital “G”), billions of people throughout history have come to believe in and follow Him. And He has changed their lives.
You might have had a hard life but so have countless others. You might have doubted the existence of God but so have many of His current followers at one time. You might question yourself and why you believe what you believe but so have I.
Say you’re already a believer but not always a follower. Is your life going well? Do you have a steady job, good family life and not too many struggles? Do you call out to God only during hard times? Why is that? Is Satan coming at you with his flaming arrows of temptation, deceit, lies, despair and doubt? Do you recognize that Satan is even out there or are you too engrossed in his deception to even notice? Sure, you believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder (James 2:19).
Life is full of seasons. They can last from a few days to even a few years but one thing is c