ReubenSipho

Everyday, I find myself immersing into deep reflection about the meaning of life. As a devout Christian, I have always believed in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and God the Father and the Holy Spirit. I often ponder the reasons behind my faith; does it all make sense? Why do I need to believe in God? Does my God reign supreme over others?

My thoughts are continuously drawn to Exodus 3:14, wherein God declares to Moses, “I am who I am.” The Lord proved His infinite power time and time again. When the Israelites found themselves trapped at the Red Sea, Exodus 14:19 reveals the awe-inspiring way that He opened the waters for the Israelites to pass through. When the people grew hungry, the Lord provided them food, and when they were parched, He made water spring from the rock. All this serves to prove that God is not bound by any specific title – He is everything to us.

In Daniel 3:8-27, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego were thrust into the fiery furnace. Despite the intensity of the heat, the Lord’s power was unfettered, demonstrating His might and the true extent of His limitless status. The Bible is full of examples such as these that demonstrate the boundlessness of our God.

What is particularly magnificent about God, is that He deals with every situation in a unique manner. To Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego, He spared them the fiery flames, but for Lot, He commanded him to flee. Ultimately, what I have learned is that we do not need to comprehend God’s ways or cram them to memory, but rather to listen to His voice and abide by His teachings. After all, as Jesus states in John 10:27, “My sheep know my voice.”

When examining how the world works, it becomes clear that the opposite exists for every aspect; up and down, good and bad, left and right. Even those who do not believe in God frequently acknowledge the existence of the devil. How can there be supernatural powers of darkness without the existence of supernatural powers of light? It defies logic.

The Bible teaches us of peace, and for centuries, mankind has yearned for it. The morals and values espoused in the Holy Book align precisely with those expected of us in the contemporary world. Contrary to many other religions, Christianity does not discriminate against others but teaches us to treat one another with respect and dignity, without judgment. As Jesus states, if we wish to inherit heaven, we must follow Him and His teachings.

Jesus himself demonstrated this very message through his interactions with the most marginalized members of society, including sex workers, tax collectors, and others. He chose to dine with them, and in doing so, emphasized the importance of not judging others. It is our duty to love each other as we love ourselves.

I have discovered that nothing feels better than reading with understanding, instead of blindly believing what we are told from an early age. We need to seek the truth and think critically. We must avoid taking the easy way out and be proactive in expanding our knowledge and understanding. Only then can we become truly creative and insightful individuals, firm in our faith and confident in our belief in the Almighty.