Disbelief

TITLE:  Disbelief
DATE:  October 10, 2019
​
Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT: John 6:64 -  ESV - 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

In any language, there are few words more abhorrent than that of traitor.

For nearly 30 years, Larry Chin, 63, a naturalized American citizen, lived a double life.

While working as a translator and analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, he passed classified documents to the People's Republic of China. When caught, Chin insisted that he was only trying to improve relations between his homeland and his adopted country, the United States.

Nevertheless, Chin was convicted of spying, and was sentenced to life in prison. He showed no emotion when the verdict was handed down.

But that too, was just a false front.

Larry Chin committed suicide.  He appeared fine when guards brought him breakfast.  Later in the morning, they found Chin dead with a plastic bag around his head.

When people look at Judas they think that his greatest offense was the kiss that betrayed his Rabbi in the Garden of Gethsemane or visiting Jesus’ enemies in the first place.

 If you were to ask Jesus to list His disciple's worst misdeed, I believe He would say, "It was not the kiss, or the 30 silver coins.

 Judas' worst offense was that he wasn't a believer. Jesus would continue: “I called him,  I  loved him, but he never responded He could have been forgiven, as Peter was forgiven; but unlike Peter Judas never had a faith which brought him to repentance."

Truly, Judas had the opportunity to see Jesus' miracles, hear Jesus preach; watch Jesus love all of humanity. In spite of all these opportunities, Judas' heart was never won over and he betrayed His Savior for the price of a slave.

As you hear the news today you will be amazed at the great sins and hatred that people have.

You may believe that those wrongdoings are committed because of poverty or greed or 1,000 different motivations. Today remember that these sins stem from another cause: the sin of Judas. A lack of faith which refuses to repent  

They don't believe that Jesus is their Savior, They don't believe that Jesus came for them, lived for them, died for them and wishes to forgive them. Most certainly they don’t believe that He rose from the grave to rescue them.

 If is the sin of disbelief and a refusal to repent which becomes the worst of all.

THE PRAYER - Lord Jesus, I do many things wrong every day. So much of that wrong stems from what is in my heart. Help me begin and end every day with a solid faith in You as Savior and Friend. In Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html