Let’s call her Cissy. Cissy arrives at an ‘ah-ha’ moment in which she declares, “I believe in God.”
Does God care whether or not Cissy believes in His existence? If so, then the next scene has God summoning the angels and saying something like, “Guess what? Cissy believes I exist. Three cheers for Cissy. Or not. Never mind.”
All of Heaven knows this truth: God exists whether Cissy believes it or not. Therefore, no need to cheer because Cissy announces she believes in an obvious truth. James 2:19 is the best Scriptural support for taking this view: “You believe God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”
Cissy gains nothing for expressing knowledge of a truth. An English student gets no points for recognizing the existence of the period. A math student gets no credit for acknowledging the existence of the multiplication table. Both students must demonstrate usage of that knowledge before they can acquire points.
Likewise, Cissy must make a response to that knowledge. In James 2:19, at least the demons shuddered as a response to the knowledge that God exists. Suppose Cissy doesn’t even do that. In that instance, her status is even lower than the demons.
Cluelessly, Cissy moves on, sipping pomegranate juice and listening to hip hop on her ear pods while her faithful spaniel Rupert strolls beside her. Life is good. Except it’s not.
A real, jaw-dropping life for Cissy begins when she grasps the amazing truth of God desiring a relationship with her. God’s desire comes true when Cissy becomes a Believer, putting her full trust in the extraordinary work God performs in order for that relationship to become reality. This moves Cissy from a “being a good girl” religion to a vibrant “relationship with God Almighty” religion. Need I say, “Huge difference!”
That extraordinary relationship is described in arguably the most memorized Bible verse ever—John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Most people identify the phrase ‘believes in Him’ as a knowledge phrase. In other words, a person simply has to believe in the existence of God to gain eternal life. It’s an illogical assumption: “I believe in the existence of God. Therefore, I have gained eternal life.” It’s like saying, “I identify as wallpaper. Therefore, I am wallpaper.” Same illogical logic.
‘Believes’ is a full-fledged trusting word, pointing to the establishment of the most incredible relationship any human being could hope to have. God gives His Son as the sacrifice for our sins so that we can have a relationship with Him.
Finally, Cissy understands the full power of the Son’s sacrifice fulfilling God’s desired relationship with her. Cissy, in turn, gives her life to Him as a living sacrifice. Thus, begins the most rewarding, most splendid relationship any human could desire—one infinitely stretching into an eternal life beyond our comprehension.
Yet it doesn’t end there. God next sends His Holy Spirit to dwell within Cissy. The Holy Spirit teaches Cissy all the amazing aspects of this new relationship. He plants the seeds of His fruit within her: His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control (Galatians 5:22). He prepares Cissy for her entrance into the eternal kingdom where she will enjoy the electrifying moment of meeting the God of the universe face-to-face and dwelling in the midst of His glory forevermore. A relationship beyond compare!
Jesus promises His followers they can enter into His rest by coming to Him (Matthew 11:28). That simple statement encapsulates all God offers when He extends His invitation to have relationship with Him. When Jesus describes His yoke as being easy and His burden as light (Matthew 11:30), it’s because those qualities exist within the relationship He establishes with us when we place our full trust in Him.
What’s the opposite of this? Suppose Cissy never establishes a believing relationship with Jesus. Sadly, she will never find the highest demonstration of love, no matter where she looks. She will never know complete joy or peace, but will only catch brief glimpses which leave her thirsting for more. Without God’s faithfulness surrounding her, she will always succumb to wondering and questioning, followed by worry. Most of all, she will never enjoy living forever in the paradise Jesus promises to the thief on the cross in Luke 24.
Just a belief in the existence of God? That road can be traveled no further than a symbolic few inches. Hell becomes her eternal existence, and all because she thought a belief in the existence of God was all she needed.
Far, far better to faithfully embrace an incredible relationship with God through His Son’s sacrifice and the bonus of His Holy Spirit dwelling within. Far, far better to accept Jesus’ offer to take on His easy yoke and His light burdens. Far, far better to enter into His rest for all of eternity.