I am sitting here in my recliner, at home alone, listening to Mercy Me sing their song “ I can only imagine”. Maybe it is because of turning 60 or maybe it is because of the circumstances that are in my life right now, I don't know. But life seems so very long and extremely dreary to me right now. The Word of my God assures me of so many things that we are to receive by faith and there comes a point of time in our lives, especially lately, where you, or is it just me, would really appreciate it if God would just kick it into high gear and do something. I don't care which, what or how, just do something spectacular for all to see and be glorified in it throughout the world. Times are very desperate right now and we are seeing first hand with our own little eyes some of the harder words our Jesus told us were going to happen.
(Matthew 24:6-13) And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. (7) Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. (8) But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. (9) "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are My followers. (10) And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other. (11) And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. (12) Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. (13) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Do you see that? Verse 14? Sin will be rampant, and the love of many will grow cold. I know, wars and rumors of wars, nation against nation, people arrested and persecuted, killed but why would so many brothers and sisters turn cold in such desperate times as these? Doesn't desperation drive us to Christ? Isn't that what the Psalmist said, In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord heard me and delivered me out of all my troubles.
(Luke 18:8) I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?"
Is this what our problem is? Jesus is looking all around the world trying to find FAITH? I don't think our faith stops Him. I think our unbelief stops Him. Wait a minute, isn't faith and belief the same thing? No! Jesus said if you have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed we could speak to a mountain and it would be removed. But we don't believe it or there would be a whole lot of earth shaking going on. We speak to much without power. Power comes by believing.
(John 12:37) But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in Him.
(Mark 9:23-24) "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." (24) The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"
Look at those scriptures. Miracles didn't make people believe and the dad of the epileptic boy cried out help my unbelief even when I do believe. Did Jesus do everything He could to build faith or do we just grow cold in unbelief? Did Jesus heal the epileptic boy? Yes! Why? Because the dad admitted lack of belief! Lord I believe help me to believe more! Do you think dad believed more after the son was healed? I would like to think he did, but it doesn't say. It just says Jesus helped the boy up and he stood up. Nothing more said, nothing more done, just simply got up and left. No big deal, except, the disciples saying why couldn't we do it? Jesus said, pray and fast more. Pay the price. Why are people cold and falling away, they don't want to pay the price. Belief and continued growth costs. And with all the world, especially the free world, has to offer, they say Oh well, it didn't work, I guess it isn't real, so they quit. Cold Stone Ice cream cold. Sin on a cone. Death on a stick cold.
So this is why I cry out in desperation for God to do something awesome to show people all He is! Will He do it? I don't know. Do I believe enough? I believe He is able, I believe that all right. But do I believe He will? You and I have got to not only believe he is able, that's faith, but believe God is doing it, that is belief! So Lord help my unbelief so I can see the desires of my heart. So I do not loose any more friends to the cold cruel world.
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