The Importance of Convictions

The Importance of Convictions

Which do you have the most of? Convictions or Preferences? What are the beliefs that you stand on? Are they based on the Word of God? or are they based on your opinions?

An excellent example of a conviction is in the book of Daniel. There are several examples of Daniel's convictions, this one is in Chapter 6. Daniel has been given much authority in the kingdom of Darius, by this time he is an old man. And as it will be certain men "sought to find occasion against Daniel...but they could find no fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him." (Daniel 6:4) And so a petition is drawn up stating that if anyone prays to God or man for thirty days, that person will be thrown into a den of lions.

What was the first thing that Daniel did? "he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled down upon his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." (Daniel 6:10)

Daniel had strong conviction. Even though he had been taken away from Jerusalem a very long time ago, he continued without interruption by the commands of man, to pray and give thanks to God. We know the rest of the story, Daniel is thrown into the den of lions, the lions mouths are shut, and Daniel is preserved. Even King Darius said to him "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee." (Daniel 6:16) What a testimony his life must have been.!

But sometimes beliefs are not based on the absolute truth of the bible.  Sometimes we live by our preferences, not convictions. Living on preferences makes one waiver to and fro because they are personal opinions, not based on absolute truth.

What is the danger of not having strong convictions? What do you do when someone brings up a controversial subject? If you do not have strong convictions based on the truth of the bible, chances are that you say nothing. But if the subject is against the word of God, if you have strong convictions based on bible truth, you must stand for them. Be loving, be gentle, but Stand. "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

It is true that everyone has a right to their own opinion. It is NOT true that everyone's beliefs are equally valuable. Only the absolute truth that the bible teaches is the moral law we must live by. The question is not what is true to you, the question is what is Truth! And where is Truth? In the Word of God. The Lord Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John 14:6

We must make a commitment to stand on the truths of the Bible. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths in the bible to us.

We must remember the example of Lot, whose testimony was so marred by his life in Sodom that "he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law" (Genesis 19:14) and determine to have a testimony instead that will speak to others of our life hid with Christ.