A man of some obvious experience in life sits in the back of a large auditorium filled with people and chairs. His hair is neatly combed and he's well, yet comfortably dressed. He sits almost statue-like with his hands resting quietly in his lap. In the moment that he seems to be enduring with experienced patience, the room is filled with the sound of music and a chorus of voices singing in unison. He's surrounded by the impassioned praises of saints giving glory and praise to the very God that gave him life, but his stoic expression and stare belie nothing more than a passive interest in what's occurring around him. It's obvious that he's waiting patiently for it all to end, but why?. I see him clearly and for a moment, I'm consumed with wonder ... what's wrong with him? My heart and mind don't condemn him - no, more than anything I'm filled with a compassionate sadness for him ... he appears to have no life in him.
That same man's here at the appointed day and time every week and has been for years with the same general appearance and the same stale expression during the opportunity set aside for worship - unmoved. He listens intently to the teaching that later follows with ears focused on every word. But I'm wondering if the words mustn't find some deserted, disconnected place in his mind - never reaching his heart - because if they did, he'd no doubt have a hard time sitting so stoically still during the opportunity to give praise and thanks to the God who provides his everything.
For certain, to "hear" the scriptures is one thing and a worthy exercise to gain knowledge of them for sure, but to truly believe what you've heard and to experience the fullness of life that God offers because of it is an entirely different matter. As a child, I struggled with scripture. What I read had no living place in me. At the time reading it was an obligation and the right thing to do - much like the man in the back, but in later years I discovered that the seed planted in my youth had never left me and began to have life in me that I didn't expect during those more difficult readings of my childhood. The difference - the Holy Spirit gave revelation and understanding of it ... and I dared to believe it.
A world that must see to believe will never experience the fullness of life that God offers - life that must be believed to be seen. And when the revelation and understanding of the truth that Father God's provided in His great grace to us moves beyond just head knowledge to a heart of true conviction and belief, the overwhelming truth of all that He's done for us and not only all that He is, but all that He has chosen in pure grace to be to us, opens an unstoppable wellspring of gratitude and praise toward Him. This is to experience the fullness of life that God intended - to experience the reality of relationship with Him through our submission to first believe.
The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea." John 4:48-54 (NLT)
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