Like Jesus disciples, we often look for life amongst dead works. We worry about things that God has already taken care of. We are afraid of things that we should not be afraid of and we often weep and mourn when it’s totally unnecessary. Further, we often doubt when should believe, just like his disciples did. When Mary Magdalene told Jesus’ disciples that she had seen the Risen Lord, Mark 16:11 says, “they would not believe it.” “It” is referring to Jesus resurrection. Then Jesus appeared to the two on the road to Emmaus and these two went and told them also, but verse 13 says, “and they did not believe them.” Them is referring to the witnesses! They just wouldn’t believe!
But they did believe! They believed in themselves. If they could see it, touch it, taste it, smell it, or rationalize it, they might believe in it. All men are believers. Everyone believes in something. When people refuse to believe the witness and testimony of eye witnesses to the resurrection, they just embrace another object upon which to place their confidence or devotion. Paul says man is inclined to reject the intuitive existence of God and turn to worship sticks and stones and beasts, etc. Unbelief in our age has become a little more sophisticated. But it’s all the same. We either believe in God or we believe in ourselves, but the truth is, we all believe in something.
The comic Steve Martin once said, “It’s so hard to believe in anything anymore . . . I guess I wouldn’t believe in anything if it weren’t for my lucky Astrology Mood Watch.” No one believes in nothing. Everyone has faith. The only differences are in the object of our faith and its intensity.
Chuck
“…believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31