In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. —Genesis 1:1

One Easter morning, my mama thought I had seen her sneaking an Easter basket into my room, so she fessed up that there was no Easter Bunny. Or Tooth Fairy. Or Santa Claus. They were all just make-believe. It was really her and Daddy who had been leaving the baskets on our beds, the quarters under our pillows, and the toys under the tree. They were the ones who collected our teeth and ate Santa’s cookies. It was my big brother who shoveled snow on the roof for the sleigh to land, rang the bells at midnight, and left footprints and hoofprints all around. Well, I had not seen her sneak in—and I was devastated.

So now, in my little-girl fears, my next question was: “So what about Jesus? Is He only make-believe, too?” Was Mama right, and He was real and came knocking, but I didn’t believe Him and I didn’t let Him in? What if I believed him and let him in, only to find out he was not real, but only one of the bad guys in disguise that Mama always warned me about? How would I know? How could I be sure?

Those pivotal questions followed me into my fifth-grade Sunday School class one Sunday when our teacher asked us: If a man with long hair, wearing a white robe and sandals, knocked on our classroom door and said He was Jesus, how would we know whether He was telling the truth or not? Our teacher never gave us the answer. He just let the question hang there. Little did I know that just a few weeks later, I would come face-to-face with my Savior personally, and I would know and understand. It was when my dad caught me stealing, and I saw how deeply my actions hurt him and damaged our relationship. Then, I listened to Billy Graham on TV that night. I learned that my sin hurt God even more deeply and that forgiveness and eternal life could only come through Jesus Christ. That was the beginning of my walk with God.

People ask all the time, “How can I know?” It’s a fair question, especially in today’s culture with its ever-changing “your truth is your truth, and my truth is my truth.” “If it’s right for you, then do it, because what’s right for me might not be right for you and vice versa.” And the “all-about-me” mentality. In ever-growing unrest, widespread violence, scarcity, and uncertainty, how can people know for sure that God is real and that Christ is the answer? Where do we find that answer?

First and foremost, we see that the answer lies in His written Word. “In the beginning God …” (Genesis 1:1). “In the beginning was the Word … and the Word was God” (John 1:1). “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants …. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ …” (Rev.1:1; 22:21). From the very first words in the very first chapter of the very first book to the very last words in the very last book of His “Love Letter” to us, and on every page in between, we see that it all starts with God, and it all ends with God.

His Word was written over a period of roughly fifteen hundred years, by forty different human authors from all walks of life. Some were contemporaries and knew each other, but most did not. Most were Jewish; at least one was not. However, all were moved by the Spirit to write using their own individual style of expression, yet in unity and with a continuity of thought. They all pointed to the sinfulness of humanity, the need for a Savior, the coming Messiah, a future when all things will be made right, and to the Only Creator God who is worthy of all glory, honor, power, praise, and worship.

Then God came to earth in the form of His Son to dwell with us for a time. His earthly life would validate and fulfill His written Word that says He came to seek and save those who are lost.

Then God sent His Holy Spirit to live in the heart of every single believer—just as He had promised—so that we can know, and trust, and live out His Word with the confidence that He will never leave us; His Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are His (Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:16).

Proof? We have His Word. We have His Son. We have His indwelling Holy Spirit. The proof lies in His cross and His empty tomb. It is within us, His Church, built one soul at a time, soul upon soul. Consider this—we are living proof to the entire world that Jesus is real and that we can truly know Him personally.

God has been present throughout every single page of His story, of history, and of the future. He is on every page of our story, our history, and our future. He’s moving, breathing, working, drawing, saving. Why? Because right from the beginning—God!

Father, thank You for making Yourself known to me. Thank You for Your Love Letter, for Your Spirit, for Your grace and mercy upon my life. Thank You for the proof that leaves no doubt. I believe in You. I trust You. I choose to follow You. I love You, Lord!

In Him,
Donna Perkins

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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