I just finished a book with the title "Believe And Be Saved". The thought occurred to me, nowhere is there an explanation of how that fantastically simple word "believe" could be bantered about without the slightest suggestion of how this is accomplished. It is true, to those in the know, belief is all that is necessary to have salvation. However, equally so, belief is not always so easy to have. Let's look at some of the reasons.
    Every day we have thrust upon us the thought of our needing to believe in this worthy cause or that necessary helping hand. Only to wake to find the promoter of one or the other has absconded with all the funds and though the cause was worthy or the handout was necessary, the bottom line is they didn't get what you believed they would. The causes were not to blame but the results were the same.
    To place your trust in someone or something is no different than it was a hundred years ago. Remember the traveling medicine show with the magic elixir "good for all your ills"? The bottom line is still the same they take your money and they're gone in the morning.
    It didn't take too long even back then for the crowd to become "street wise" to the charlatan. The next time he came through town, those in the know, watched the show for the entertainment (there was so little of that around), but when the pitch started they turned their back and withheld their belief, expressed in money, from him.
    When, today, a hero of some of our youth is caught with his hand in drugs or gambling or whatever, we hear our sons express, "Say it isn't so!" Hank, or Bob, or Red or whoever it might be. Their hearts are crushed. It will be a long time, if ever, before a new hero could take the fallen hero's place.
    There is a large group of adults that have lost faith in one thing or another to the point of not trusting any one or anything "ever again". When success comes to fruition and you find it is not all it's supposed to be or it fails to materialize after pouring in your best efforts, what happens? Despondency, suicide, depression, nervous breakdown, or all kinds of ailments occur. To top it off some one comes along and says, "Put your faith in God and He will see you through."
    Well, some where between total disbelief and absolute faith lies an area of understanding where most individuals exist. It is much more difficult for one who has just had his faith dashed to find within himself a willingness to give too freely, too soon. As time passes, and wounds heal an individual strives to find someone, or something, to turn to in times of stress and trials. If it is `something' (money, wealth, power, or importance) it won't be long before the evidence of insufficiency rears its ugly head. Then the cycle starts over again. When it is `someone' then the process might take a little longer, but it will still happen.
    However, when it is `The Someone Else' there will not be a recycling as there will not be any insufficiency found in our Lord God. Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Now, there has been many who has said they would never leave you, but the surest test is if you can find anyone He has forsaken. There will be none. Man may forsake God and does every day, but God not only may not, He will not forsake one who has come to Him. 2 Timothy 1:12 "nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."
    Everything we have looked at so far happens because someone is selling or begging for something. Everybody wants something and really is not interested in you or your needs. But, when we consider the pierced hands on the outstretched arms of Jesus, all He wants is your best welfare; He asks nothing and best of all He will always be there in the morning.
    The bottom line in believing is to Make God Your Hero Who Never Fails