Many people say they believe in God. Some say they trust Him.

What sort of a God do they believe in, and how strong is that belief or faith? I believe that a Creator God made the Universe and all that is in it, or at least He set up processes which eventually led to the animals, plants, weather systems and so much more of what we call creation today. Did He set it all up and walk away from it, leaving the giant, complex cog work mechanism to unwind slowly over millennia, watching from a distance? The Bible says “no”. Jesus is quoted as saying that not one sparrow falls to the earth without Him knowing, and that we are much more valued than sparrows. (Matthew 10:29)

What do we mean when we say that we trust Him? Do we believe that God will bless us continually with good things and that we will lead lives without any pain and discomfort? Few of us would say that about our lives, and if we turn to the Bible we find that it says that the sun shines on the unrighteous as well as the righteous, and the rain does the same. (Matthew 5:45)

Perhaps we need to remember that it will be all right in the end, and if it’s not all right, then it isn’t the end. (John Lennon, and others before him)

I think I believe that God has a plan for me, and that includes what happens after my time on this planet has come to an end. In the meantime, I remember the passage from Philippians, where Paul encourages us to be kind and compassionate to our fellow men, and to “work out own salvation”. (Philippians 2:12)