Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Mid-Week Message - Unquestioning Faith

"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

I want to share with you one of the miracles God performed in my life.  When I share this one, I get looks of skepticism, but I assure you it happened just this way.  I was on my way home from work in Austin, Texas one summer evening.  I was travelling down a busy road at about 50 mph.  I had just made it through a green light when all of a sudden the car in front of me slammed on its brakes which meant that I had to slam on my brakes.  I was barely able to avoid a collision.  What I was unaware of was a large car behind me that was following me very closely.  She didn't see what was happening.  I looked in my rear view mirror just in time to see her look up in horror before ramming into the back of my car, a Ford Pinto. But God had other plans.  Her car passed straight through mine.  Her face and my face were as close as if she had been in my back seat.  Afterwards, she and I just sat there trying to piece together what had just happened.  Ford Pintos, if you recall, had faulty gas tanks that could explode on impact. If not for the Lord stepping in to prevent that accident, we both would surely have perished.  

Last week I answered one of those "getting to know you" surveys on Facebook.  One of the questions on this one was "have you almost died?"  I said no but then I recalled this incident and realize that my life very well could have ended that day.  I know it is hard to believe.  I was there and it was hard for me to grasp.  I just know it happened and I praise God for protecting me that day, and every other day.

Last week someone told me that I have "great faith."  Because I know how much I struggle sometimes to wait upon and trust God for His perfect will, that is difficult for me to take in.  If this person was able to see Jesus by something I said or did, then I thank Him, not me.  But there are some things about my faith that I do know.  I believe that He is who He says He is.  I believe that He can do what He says He can do and that His love for me, and for you, has no limit.  I believe that He has all power and all knowledge and can be everywhere at the same time.  I believe that although there are countless souls that He has created, that He can be with each of them as if they were His only child. I don't understand it but I believe it.

I take Him at His word because He has shown me too much in my life for me not to.  I don't need to know how many hours or centuries were in each day of creation.  He said six days and that is good enough for me.  I don't need to know how He was able to part the Red Sea so the children of Israel could pass through on dry land.  It is enough to know He did.  I don't have to know for sure if Jonah was swallowed by a whale, a shark or something we are unaware of today or how he wasn't dissolved by the stomach acids.  Scripture says a big fish and God is great enough to keep him safe in there, just as He was able to help men walk through a fiery furnace without being burned, keep Daniel safe in the lion's den and help David kill Goliath with a stone in a sling.  

Simply put, He is.  When Moses asked who he should say sent him, the Lord's reply was "I Am".  If He was able to create the earth and all things in it along with the universes and beyond, then I know He is able to have all control over it all.  A pastor in Austin many years ago was asked how he was so sure God exists.  His answer has always stuck with me.  He said, "I know because I know because I know."  That is faith.  I have enough faith that I don't have to see His face to know He is there.  The evidence of His existence is etched on my soul.  I believe what He says because He has never let me down.  If I am disappointed in an answer to prayer, it is because I have been trying to fit His limitless will into my tiny box of expectation.  He is not bound by what I desire and has always, always, surpassed anything that I could dream of.  I may have to wait awhile, but patience is a fruit of the Spirit that needs more growth in my life.

Where do you stand today?  What is your faith like?  Can you take Him at His word and let Him be who He is or do you need for Him to be who YOU want Him to be?  The created does not get to dictate to the Creator.  I pray that if you find it difficult to trust Him, you will be able to allow yourself to accept Him as He is.  When you are able to do that your eyes will be opened to the myriad of miracles He is still performing everyday.  Don't miss them!  With great love and prayers, God bless you.

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