Lesson 324: "Why Would Anyone Stop Believing? "
Recently someone asked me if they stopped believing in God would they be punished for not believing. My response was, why in this wild, wicked world would you want to stop believing in the One who can save you? Why would you stop standing in the reverent fear of the God who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28)? Do you believe their actually a God? “Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder” (James 2:19). However, you must believe that whoever receives Him as their Lord and Savior will become children of God and live with Him eternally in Heaven (John 1:12, 6:47, Rom. 10:9). Jesus is the only way to this eternal life that God promises and He is your truth and life (John 14:6).
There are only two ways you will get out of this world and into your spiritual, eternal life. The gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction (hell) but the road is narrow that leads to life (heaven) (Matt. 7:13-14). Scripture says nothing about a revolving door that you may go back and forth from believing to not believing. Revelation 2:4-5 tells you that God will hold it against everyone who has forsaken their first love who is God. He commands you to repent and do the things you did at first, when you were first saved. Otherwise He will come and take away the lamp stand (the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts you to be saved and if you grieve Him then you will not be forgiven (Eph. 4:30).
Read the Book of Psalm and let the writers tell you what God has done for them. “Come and listen all you who fear God. Let me tell you what He has done for me” (Ps. 66:16). “Our God is a God who saves. From the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death” (Ps. 68:20). “You (God) guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into glory. Who have I in heaven but you” (Ps. 73:24-28)?
Will you be punished for not believing in God? Only God can answer this as He tells us that vengeance is His (Rom. 12:19). This is a question you need to get on your knees or face and talk to God about. He answers this question many ways in His Bible but you have to choose the door you enter. He stands at your heart’s door and knocks (Rev. 3:20)! He will give the answer, “whosoever believes in Him (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) or you will hear, “depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23). I pray that you open the right door.