THE UNBELIEVABLE

I Was Just Thinking About – THE UNBELIEVABLE.

Unbelievable is defined simply as “unlikely to be true.” It reminded me of a recently read devotional that began with a reference to the influence and impact of children’s stories on their creative beliefs and  imaginations. The reference pertained to an egg – Humpty Dumpty – who is sitting on a wall. A parallel thought is that if one sees a Turtle on a fence post you conclude that someone put it there. The same would hold true for the egg on a wall. The devotion went on to raise obvious points about after the egg fell off of the wall by asking: Did someone assist its fall? How could all of the king’s horses be enabled to take a broken egg and reassemble it so it could assume its place back on the wall. The conclusion was/is: It’s Unbelievable.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus had to deal with the reality of actual unbelief. Mark 6:1-6 (NKJV) records, “And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter…Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house. Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And HE MARVELED BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF. 

Throughout His ministry, there were those who would reject Him and His claims. They would discredit Jesus whenever they could. Even those who were closest to Him and who had been discipled by Him would have doubts. Jesus constantly asked them why they had so little faith and/or why they had no faith. Even after His resurrection, there was a dramatic moment of UNBELIEF when Thomas expressed himself (John 20:25), “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” His doubt and unbelief is confronted when Jesus appears to him (John 20:27-28) and says: “Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. Thomas said to him: My Lord and my God!”

In a news release on November 12, 2018 in The Blaze, a headline states: “Atheist minister in Christian denomination gets to keep her job leading congregation.” The United Church of Canada spokes-person indicated the official position: “…that he’s happy about the resolution and referenced the church’s core values of faith in God and inclusiveness…The dance between these core values, how they interact with and inform each other, is one that we continue to explore as followers of Jesus and children of the creator…As a Christian church, we continue to expect that ministers in the United Church of Canada will offer their leadership in accordance with our shared and agreed upon statements of faith.” The Chairman of the church’s board stated: “…that he’s also pleased and that Gretta Vosper represents what the church is all about. The church’s non-exclusive language provides a church experience that draws participants across a wide spectrum of belief and unbelief…”

There are many Scriptures that address the failure to believe. Psalm 78:22 refers to the response of the children of Israel in the wilderness: “They did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.” Hebrews 3:7-19 issues a warning against unbelief. Verses 12-15 is the direct warning: “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called: Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end…” The Gospel was simply stated to the Philippian Jailor, Acts 16:31 – “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. This is the BELIEVABLE message of Jesus Christ and His Cross.

Prayerfully – believe – and consider these things with me.