Friday, April 19, 2019
No Longer Hard to Believe
For most of mankind’s history, people had to be within earshot in order to talk with others. So, it was hard to believe inventors of the industrial age who began postulating that someone could talk in one place and have their voice heard in another place, all with the use of electricity and wires. But, as a result of many believers pursuing this dream, such a device was invented, and some demonstrations were staged to help the public become believers. The story goes that on March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell became one of the first to demonstrate that it could be done. Graham strung wires from his office to another room and hooked up his primitive telephones to the two ends of the wire. Here are the results, in his own words:
I then shouted into M [the mouthpiece] the following sentence: "Mr. Watson, come here – I want to see you." To my delight he came and declared that he had heard and understood what I said. I asked him to repeat the words. He answered, "You said 'Mr. Watson – come here – I want to see you.'" We then changed places and I listened at S [the speaker] while Mr. Watson read a few passages from a book into the mouthpiece M. It was certainly the case that articulate sounds proceeded from S. The effect was loud but indistinct and muffled. (Bells Journal in the Library of Congress)
Eighteen months later, on 10 August 1876, Mr. Bell made the world's first long-distance telephone call in Canada, from Brantford to Paris, Ontario, a distance of about 6 miles. We can’t blame people for being hesitant to believe that voices could travel over wires in the mid 1800s. But it is no longer hard to believe, because it is now demonstrated on a daily basis.
The same is true of amazing concepts such as heaven, eternal life, salvation and miracles; they are sometimes hard to believe. Knowing this, God staged a demonstration that is one of the best known and most talked about in all of human history, despite the fact that it happened centuries before many of the greatest communication tools were invented.
The demonstration was set up in the Old Testament Scriptures, when prophets predicted (in hundreds of places) the birth, death and resurrection of a Savior. Then, to make sure there was no confusion, Jesus claimed to be that Savior and He predicted his own death and resurrection. Unfolding events further proved that this was not a cheap trick or sleight of hand. Jesus was arrested, illegally sentenced on bogus charges and publicly hanged by public enemies. He was buried and guarded by the elite military of His day who wanted to guarantee that He did not rise from the dead as predicted.
But then came Easter morning. In one fell swoop, Almighty God gave mankind the ultimate demonstration of power. When Jesus rose from the dead, He demonstrated that He was more powerful than religious institutions, political powers, death, hell and the grave. The same Bible predicts that one of these days, when the rest of the Bible’s prophecies are fulfilled, Jesus will declareI amhe that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18)
Ironically, even such a dramatic and definitive demonstration was not enough for those who do not want to believe. But for those willing to face the facts, heaven and everlasting life are no longer hard to believe. Better yet, billions of people throughout the world who have struggled with life’s difficult questions have discovered a personal relationship with God. As a result, their contemporary, personal encounters with the miraculous continue to demonstrate that God is real, alive and well. For these blessed people the wonderful promises of Scripture are no longer hard to believe.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Embrace the Process
He was a grown man squirming in his pew. What would people think? At first he was a little miffed at the preacher for having the gall to be so straight-forward. Then he felt a bit angry with God for allowing things to unfold in his life as they had. Finally he began to feel the guilt and regret (that he was all too comfortable with) as he admitted that so many of his issues were caused or complicated by his own choices.
Now he had a choice to make. The preacher had just likened God to a coach and himself to an assistant coach. He proposed that God takes responsibility for empowering and refining us, but that we needed to be willing to cooperate. He thought about his six year old son whose coach often pushed him and trained him by having him do exercises. As his son cooperated, he became a better player, even though he didn’t always understand what the coach was up to. Did he trust God enough to let Him be his coach?
Thinking back, he realized that God had set him up! God knew he was only human and that he needed some help coming face to face with his issues. It was probably not just coincidence that he had recently encountered an old friend who triggered painful memories of hurt and rejection. The book he was reading and a few scriptures from his devotional reading had also nudged him to take a fresh look at the need to forgive people and accept forgiveness for himself. Everything was priming him for this moment; this opportunity to walk to the front of his church and cry out to God as others ministered to him.
As the minister asked everyone to stand, his attention was drawn back to the minister who was now comparing God to the good shepherd who is trying to move his sheep to new pastures – higher dimensions of living. He had to admit, there were many Bible stories in which God did that very thing. In fact the Bible talks about God refining us as silver is refined in the fire. Maybe his recent struggles were doing a good work in his heart. The process was definitely helping him to be honest with himself. And with God, there was hope.
As the music began to play, he felt that familiar and wonderful sense of God’s presence. God was so patient and kind. He didn’t feel condemned; just challenged. He also felt reminded of the many times he had bravely stepped out before. God was always so encouraging, and he had never regretted any advances he had made as a result of God’s prompting. Suddenly it dawned on him: he was not on trial… this was not a guilt-driven emotional collapse… this was an opportunity to let God help him rise above his past and experience more love, joy and peace. The choice was obvious – He needed to step out and embrace the process.
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