Matthew 16:15  … {Jesus asked} “Who do you say that I am?”

What we THINK ultimately effects what we DO. What you BELIEVE drives your actions.

You can hardly turn the television on today without hearing about some new poll that’s been taken. Political polls are on every channel, with people trying to guess who is going to be our next president. One poll will put the Republican candidate in the lead, whereas another poll will show the Democrat to be ahead. Truthfully, I don’t think anyone knows the future but our Lord. I’m going to go and vote my conscience – and I pray you do, too – and trust the Lord to protect us all afterwards!

I was having a quick lunch at a fast food restaurant the other day and watching CNN because that’s what was on. Across the bottom of the screen is the news ticker – a ribbon where they put little snippets of news. As I watched the ticker it read “1 in 5 Americans have HIV and do not know it”. That got my attention. I don’t know how they figured that out or even if it’s true – but that’s a scary figure. Immediately after this the next news ticker stated “1 in 5 Americans have no religion”. Think about that for a minute and let’s see if we can connect the dots.

“1 in 5 Americans have HIV”
“1 in 5 Americans have no religion”

Do you think there’s a correlation there? Our society is becoming more and more and more secular, more and more divorced from God. The Bible tells us ….

Psalms 10:3-4  For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; the one who is greedy curses and despises the LORD.  In all his scheming, the wicked arrogantly thinks: “There is no accountability, since God does not exist.”

When people do not think that God exists, when they think that they can only live for themselves today, then this belief in non-belief effects the way they live. If your world-view is that there is no God or that there is a God but He could care less what you do, then that world-view will effect how you live.

If to you God is standardless God or a non-existent God then you will live your life without regarding Him. But if to you God has standards – standards by which you will be judged – then this will influence how you live your lives.

The most important question you will ever be asked is the question that Jesus asks us in our text today. He asks:

Matthew 16:15 … {Jesus asked} “Who do you say that I am?”

Who is Jesus Christ to you? How you answer that question will determine how you live your life when you walk away from Church this morning. How you answer that question will effect how you talk to others, and what you cherish. How you answer this question will determine your success in the business world, and your success or failure as a Church. For I tell you, brothers and sisters, the local Church is failing to reach America! Dr. Jim Denison of the Denison Forum wrote:

“Fewer than half of Americans can identify Genesis as the first Book of the Bible. Only one third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Only one half can name even one of the Gospels. … 60% of young people ages 15-29 have left active Church involvement.”

God calls His Church to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) and His people to “shine as bright lights in a world filled with darkness” (Philippians 2:15). That’s the goal.

Who do you say that Jesus is?