What we believe in the core of our beings affects our entire lives. Our beliefs control what we think and speak. Our beliefs control our actions and how we treat others. What we believe propels us into the future, whether for good or negative.

Usually, our core beliefs, what we believe deep within our beings, stems from our childhoods. It is easier to shape a child’s belief system when they are young, and these beliefs can stay with them for all their lives, again for good or negative.

Children who are treated as if they are worthless, stupid, not worth loving, and won’t amount to anything usually prove that to be so in living out their lives. Not because that was true, but because they believed it to be true. Some people groups teach their children from the earliest age to hate other people groups, and their main goal in life is to eliminate those despised others. They are taught that the greatest good they can do for mankind is to even die while eliminating those who are despised.

Throughout the ages, many have been targeted like this, and whole races have been exterminated because of hatred. One person’s hatred of another group can change a whole nation, as history has shown. This poison can permeate the culture and change belief systems.

There have also been cult leaders who had such tremendous control over their followers that they believed whatever they were told. When the time came that the leader announced, “It’s time to drink the poison,” they drank the poison and died for what they believed.

There have been countless thousands who have died for what they believed throughout the ages. Some of those beliefs were based on lies, some on truth. But this shows that belief can be used as a very powerful weapon and can change the course of a life, a nation, or all mankind.

The belief that did the most good to change all of mankind’s eternal destiny is the belief that Jesus Christ is the Savior who came into the world, fully God and fully man, to die for our sins. He was raised from the dead to make a way for us to be forgiven and to spend eternity with Him in Heaven if we believe. This single belief has done more to shape the world than any other.

This is the belief that can change lives. It’s the belief that can speak truth to all the lies we’ve believed up to that point. It can cause those children who have been told all their lives that they are worthless to finally receive the love of God that shows them their true worth, that they are worth dying for.

This is the belief that can turn hatred towards other people groups into love for them. It is the belief that instead of being willing to die to eliminate them, they might be willing to die for the Savior who wants all to know of His great love and sacrifice.

Belief in Jesus can give those who are lost and lonely, discouraged and in despair, desperate, hopeless, and searching for a reason to live, something and Someone to believe in. Someone who will never leave them nor forsake them. Someone who gives peace and joy. Someone who loved us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His life so we could live. That’s Someone who is worth believing in.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.