believe in Jesus

A detailed reproduction of the Shroud of Turin resting on a wooden table. — Image generated and edited via AI.

I was in a Bible study group once, and one subject came up that kind of surprised me. Before I get into the topic, I want to say how much I appreciated and respected those guys in the group. We all had walked with God for various lengths of time and have come from different backgrounds and denominations.

One guy brought up the Shroud of Turin, which was allegedly the cloth that Jesus Christ’s body was wrapped in after he died. He was really into it and talked about how some scientists have proven that it is real and dates back to the age when Jesus was on Earth. (Some scientists have disproven it as being authentic.) Some of the other guys had never heard of this cloth before. I, for one, am a skeptic.

First of all, it’s okay if you have a different opinion than I do. Believing in the Shroud of Turin or not has nothing to do with whether you will make it into heaven or not. I asked the gentleman who believed it was real if it helped his faith or strengthened his faith. I was surprised when he responded that it did.

I’m not a “super saint” or anything, but I believe in Jesus Christ and that he is the Son of God and walked this Earth to show us a better way to live, and that his death on the cross gives us forgiveness of our sins. I believe that without any physical proof. I mean, I have evidence of the changed lives of others and of who I would be without his love in my heart. Only God’s love and his Son could change the heart of man. I have seen all that God has done in my life, the miracles, etc. I believe, period!

Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” John 20:29 (MSG)

There has been a lot of analysis and study of the shroud, yet the results remain inconclusive. Some scientists place the cloth at the time of Jesus, while others don’t.

My point is this: either believe in Jesus from the word of God or not. Don’t be wishy-washy, for that will only make you weak. Physical evidence shouldn’t matter. It’s intriguing or interesting, but it shouldn’t be necessary. Look how many followed Jesus and saw miracles right in front of their eyes, yet after they left, they most likely allowed the limitations of their mind to reason the miracles away. The result is they stopped believing in Jesus.

Jesus didn’t do miracles to “prove” that he was indeed the Son of God. He did them because people needed them. Remember, God does the supernatural when the supernatural is needed. Jesus’ main mission was to be a savior for the lost, because that was our greatest need.

God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor. Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!” Luke 4:18 (MSG)

Some people are “poor” in spirit, others are prisoners of their sins, and the blind are spiritually blind.

I used to work with a guy, and he didn’t believe that God was real. After some discussion, I finally asked him, “What would you have to see to believe?” He sat there and thought about how to answer the question for what seemed like eternity. I broke in and said, “Nothing comes to mind, does it? And here’s why: no matter what God did for you to prove his existence, it wouldn’t be enough. Your mind would then try to reason the proof away.” He turned to me with sadness in his eyes and responded, “You’re right.”

Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see. It was this kind of faith that won their reputation for the saints of old. And it is after all only by faith that our minds accept as fact that the whole scheme of time and space was created by God’s command—that the world which we can see has come into being through principles which are invisible. Heb. 11:1-3 (Phillips)

I started writing this blog post after witnessing the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. I witnessed the celestial event in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were not in the “Path of Totality,” but the moon blocked 95% of the sun. It was pretty awesome.

The phrase “Path of Totality” resonates seriousness, all-consuming, and is a moving event. Of course, the ones who came up with it meant it as the areas of the country where the moon will totally block out the sun. But it made me think of individuals I know who are struggling with life and, even worse, with accepting God. Needless to say, if they don’t correct their path in life, they may soon find the end of it with total destruction.

It’s sad to witness someone travel such a path. Even an untrained eye can see countless opportunities they have had to accept God and his Son, Jesus, into their life, but for their own reasons, they don’t. They keep fighting it, like Saul did, until the day he was on a path to Damascus. That is when he got an up-close and personal look at Jesus Christ in all his glory. It’s as if their heart is being eclipsed by darkness.

Some may argue that not everyone has the same introduction, but I would say, if that is what it took for someone to believe finally, then perhaps if they took a closer look, they would see that they, too, have had that opportunity. I am saying they have seen Jesus up close and personally through those who are true Christians. The very title means “little Christ ones.” We believers are called to be imitators of Jesus. Jesus himself claimed that he only did what he saw his Father in heaven do.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Acts 9:3-6

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:19 (NIV)

Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Cor. 11:1 (AMP)

If you are on such a “Path of Totality,” then stop. Get off of it now, today! Take off the glasses that you think are protecting you but are actually keeping you in total darkness. Step out from behind them, accept Jesus into your life, and start walking in light. Your new life will be pretty awesome!