"If I could just see..."

When unconvinced by the Word

Signs will not move you.

-Luke 16:31

 “Did you see that, mama? Jesus just healed that blind man!”

A woman was telling of her daughter's amazement at television drama about the life of Jesus. To her young daughter those weren't actors. That was Jesus healing a blind person in front of her eyes! My friend commented about her own belief: "If I had been there to see Jesus doing the works it would be so easy to believe." I couldn’t put my finger on it at that moment, but something about her statement didn’t sit right.

Later I heard someone preach on 2 Peter 1:19 which says, “We also have a more sure word of prophesy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” (KJV)The next verse tells us the “word of prophesy” Peter refers to is Scripture. What is Scripture more sure than? Verse 16 tells us it’s the eyewitness testimony of the apostles.

That bold statement can be hard for us to accept. I’ve found myself thinking, “If I could just SEE it, Lord! If I could just SEE a person’s fingers grow back, or someone’s sight restored my faith would be so much stronger!” Jesus disagrees. He said in Luke 16:31, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.”  Again in Luke 11:29 He says, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.” Jonah was not a visible manifested sign. Jonah’s sign in Jesus time was the same sign we have from Jonah today – a written testimony…a more sure word.

Jesus was and is a miracle worker, yet He never performed on command for the skeptics so they could believe. His miracles were for those who came already believing. You don’t have to be perfect or have any special credentials for Jesus to work in you and on your behalf. You just have to come believing the Word. He’ll meet you where you are when you come with a sincere heart.

More sure words to believe: Matthew 9:1-9, Luke 18:16-17, Mark 9:21-27