Category: faith

A business suffers when a virus causes its computer system to crash, a major city comes to a standstill because of a glitch somewhere in the energy grid, a premier quarterback in the NFL is sidelined with a broken leg… We live in a shakable world.

The immediate question when the lights go out is: “When will this be over?” The deeper question is: “If my secure job suddenly ends, if my good health turns bad, if my best friend betrays me… if the whole world falls apart around me, will I stand?”

Our hope for standing is not in a better power grid or a new drug or a stronger economy. Our hope is in an unshakable King who is giving us an unshakable Kingdom. When man’s criticism and the devil’s attacks came against Him, Jesus remembered who He was and stood in the Word of His Father. “I am in the Father and the Father is in me. The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”

If I am going to stand in a shaky world, I too, must remember who I am… realizing it is far more important to believe what the Holy Spirit says than to believe what I sometimes feel. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

George Keith wrote true words in a timeless hymn: How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He has said, You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled? “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed; I, I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My gracious omnipotent hand.” “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to His foes; That soul tho’ all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

The Scripture says, “We live by faith, not by sight.” The first years Peter followed Jesus, he saw Him day after day. “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty,” he wrote. But after Jesus ascended, Peter had to follow his Master with a different type of sight. This is what we must do today. Peter’s words encourage us, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Though we may envy those who actually saw Jesus, the Lord shared with His disciples that it was better that He leave. “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” It is this promise that gives us great hope. Though we do not see the physical Jesus, we can see with spiritual eyes. In fact, only those who put their trust in Jesus are able to escape the darkness. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Listen to these incredible words from the Light of the world:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:15-21

“Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” This is what Peter said to Jesus when the disciples were told they could not follow where He was going. Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (read John 13:33-38)

How painful for God to bluntly say, “You’re not as strong as you think you are.” But when the truth is revealed, and we realize how weak we really are, God has the power to lift us up and make us stronger than we ever imagined we could be.

Jesus said, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will later.” And they did… but not before they had failed, not before they were broken, and not before they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Susan and I visited friends in New Jersey over the holidays. On Sunday, we met a young minister who shined the light of Christ. He did not have all the answers. In fact, he would probably say he understood less now than ever. In March, his beautiful wife of three years died of cancer. But on the last Sunday of a painful year, he encouraged the children of God to trust the One who is with us in good times and bad. The Spirit of God communicated deep truths through an humble man.

If we’re going to follow Jesus, we must come to the end of ourselves. No will power, no determination, no heroic effort will take us to the place Jesus went. Only God’s Spirit gives the power to pick up our cross and follow the Master. I may shout, “Lord, I’m ready!” But Jesus may say, “You’re not quite ready… but I can make you. Will you trust Me?”

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22)

“I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:18-19)

You’ve heard the story about the famous tightrope artist who claimed he could walk the tightrope across a raging river while pushing a wheelbarrow. Before attempting the feat, he asked the large crowd how many thought he would make it. Almost everyone raised a hand and voiced support of this daredevil. Then he asked, “Who will ride in the wheelbarrow while I push it?” No one volunteered.

What is the faith God is after? The type that says, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God” or the type that says, “I believe Jesus is God’s Son and I trust Him with my life”? When we put our faith in Him, Jesus comes to live in our hearts and our lives will not be the same. But why doesn’t everyone come?

A painting called “The Light of the World” shows Jesus knocking at a door. Holman Hunt, the artist, included an interesting detail. The feet of Jesus are pointed away from the door, insinuating that it is likely that He not receive an answer. We may resist getting “into Christ” for fear of the ride, or we may resist inviting Him “into us” because we don’t want to give up control. The truth is: there can be no relationship with the Father until such a union takes place… and this union only comes through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

We in Him and He in us. It was the same relationship Jesus had with His Father, though the disciples often failed to understand. When Phillip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us”, Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

I built a fire this past weekend and left the iron poker in the flame. When I pulled the poker out of the fire and placed it on a piece of newspaper, the paper ignited. The iron was in the fire, but the fire was also in the iron. So it should be with those who follow Jesus.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 (Jesus speaking)

“… Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” II Corinthians 5:17

“Remain in me and I will remain in you.” John 15:4 (Jesus speaking)

I told Susan last spring, “If I can make it through a summer of camp then we’ll declare it a miracle!” We run camps during the summer at Greater Atlanta Christian School and the work can be quite draining. We had a great summer! I had full energy and I am so thankful.

So is it a miracle? Yesterday, one of my neighbors told me that when she sees me walking around the neighborhood, she wants to get down on her knees and thank God for the miracle He worked. Is that a proper response? I have two other neighbors who are nurses at Emory, where I had the stem cell transplant. They know all the doctors who worked with me and they understand the medical procedures I endured. Would they say my health is a miracle?

I guess I should not speak for them, but I know they believe they often see the hand of God. They prayed for me with unique understanding as I was sick. Not only would they visit me when I was at Emory, but they would check on me at my house or give me rides to the hospital on their way to work. They know the medical reasons I have health again, but I suspect they would still call it a miracle.

In our theologies we sometimes argue about miracles. Our definitions are often rigid and limited. It doesn’t make much difference to me how someone defines a miracle, I just know I was once quite sick and now I am quite well. And I know Who is responsible!

“But what if your next report says the cancer is back?” What if it does? Nothing will take away the miracle of this past year. We don’t know too much about Lazarus after he was raised from the dead. But we can be confident of one thing… he died again. Does that negate the miracle Jesus performed? What if he died of the same sickness that led to his first death? Would it matter?

If we pray in faith, it seems to me, we all believe in some type of miracle. Is it not a miracle that I can utter words out loud or in my mind and the Creator of all things hears and answers? Lord, increase our faith! I want to pray for the sick with a faith that believes God will bring instant healing. But if God has a different timetable or a different plan, we’ll let Him be in control. That’s the great challenge – to always believe our perfect Father is in control. He is.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21