Believe It or Not?

Robert L. Ripley was a world traveler who searched for, and found the most incredible, amazing, and ‘almost’ unbelievable items of interest. Like a two-headed animal, a shrunken human head, and a person nearly nine (9) feet tall! Mr. Ripley would not only produce these items for anyone’s inspection, he would often challenge them to: “Believe it, or not”? He offered millions of dollars to any person who could disprove his findings. After seeing it with their own eyes, people had to believe it; they were often left no other choice! He had the goods.

Two thousand years ago three men were crucified on a hill called Golgotha outside the city of Jerusalem in Israel. The official record shows that all three men died, but only one was wrapped in burial clothes and buried. After three days had passed, some friends went to the tomb to pay their respects. What they found was incredible, amazing, and ‘unimaginable’. The men at the tomb were dressed in white clothing (gleaming like lightning) because they were angels. They told the visitors that the man who had died and been buried, was not there. Before they could ask the men any questions, the men explained:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.Then they remembered his words.” Luke 24:5-8

Like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James who took spices to the tomb, we too often run into people who are looking for God among the dead. We study the Bible as a mere historical document and go to church as if going to a memorial service. But Jesus is not among the dead—He lives! Do you look for Jesus among the living? In John 11:25 Jesus says to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life.” There are seven (7) “ I Am’s ” in the Bible, this is the last one mentioned.

You have heard the story many times before, and many times you have been given the choice, “Believe it, or Not”? You have a choice, but it’s not, believe it, or not. The choice presented to you is, “Believe it…or else”!