02/28/2023
We say that we believe in Jesus Christ. This is what I am contemplating this morning... do we simply acknowledge Him, or do we really believe in Him for who He is? This sounds like a dangerous question, but it is one the Jesus Himself asked His apostles when they told Him that they believed. Listen to their words and the answer Jesus gave them...
“Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?”
John 16:30-31 KJV
Did the apostles really know who He was? Could they possibly understand what it meant to be the Son of God? How about us? Do we now believe?
God is able to peer into our very souls, and understands us completely, but we don't have that kind of insight into His being. By virtue of our limited understanding of His Almighty nature Jesus asks "Do ye now believe?" Can we, by faith, bridge our ignorance of Him, and say without reservation that we believe in Him which we don't understand fully? Paul speaks to our inability to know God completely:
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
Romans 11:33-36 KJV
Peter writes that we should continue to learn of the grace of Jesus and to know Him better. This comes from a man that Jesus looked into and told that he would deny Him. Peter understood that although he knew much about the Lord, his knowledge wouldn't fill a thimble. He needed faith and grace to bridge the gap as he strove to reach a point where he could answer Jesus' question by saying "Yes Lord, I believe."
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18 KJV
In Romans Paul tells us that we should believe in our hearts. If we are able to do that, then we can truly believe. Our love and faith must bridge the divide between making a calculated decision to believe in what we know of Him, and our ability to believe in Him for all He is. It makes our confession of belief real.
“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Romans 10:8-11 KJV
Being able to fully understand God and His relationship with Jesus is something that is beyond our ability. But we can understand enough, so that our heart can bridge the chasm, which is our ignorance, and allow us to confess with our mouths that He is our redeemer, and be saved. Are we ready to step across that divide?
I have been married to my wife for over forty seven years, and, although I know much about her, she still surprises me. If I had waited until I knew her completely we would never have married, and I would have missed the greatest joy of my life... and even the fullness of life itself. I bridged the gap between what I knew of her and the unknown with love, and that allowed me to stand before God and say to Him: "I do." when asked if I would take this woman to be my wife.
When we decide to confess our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ we do so with just enough information to convince ourselves of who He is, and to grasp hold of a faith in the rest of Him. This allows us to step across the crevice of the unknown. We know in that instant that we love Him and have faith in His unseen portions that are yet to be revealed. The Gospel of John quotes Jesus as He speaks to Thomas...
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
John 20:29 KJV
Are we ready to become the bride of Christ without knowing everything there is to know about Him? Are we ready to step out in faith? Are we prepared to abide in Him, and let Him abide in us as He reveals Himself more fully with each passing moment and day? Is our love enough in those first hours that it can provide a foundation from which we can love Him… not just in that moment, but for eternity?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us an understanding of who you are, and who your Son Jesus is. Thank you Lord for showing us that you are beyond our ability to fathom, and that your depth is immeasurable. Give us the faith and love we need to believe in you, and which allows us to comprehend your goodness in just enough measure that we are able to confess you as our Almighty God. Let your love for us be sufficient such that our own love for you might be completed and bridge our lack of understanding. Lord, there is so much of you that is beyond our ability to know, and yet, we stand ready to become the bride of Christ. We praise your name and ask that you strengthen us in Jesus so that we will not miss a single day of life... yes, let our love for you lead us to a perfect and full life in your presence. Holy Father, although we see through a glass darkly, we are able to witness just enough of you to know that in the day when the mist is removed from our eyes, we will fall to our knees at the sight of your unobstructed glory, and cry out in awe and wonder… “Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come! Praised be your name now and always!”, and we will lean on you as we pray… “Help us Abba in our unbelief, strengthen us is our faith, and lead us to eternity with you through Jesus our Brother, our redeemer, and your Holy Son the Christ. Wash us in His blood, the blood of Jesus who is your Perfect Lamb, and in whom we are made righteous, holy, and perfect… forevermore”
Rich Forbes