I Believe

Armando has a crazy belief. Will you join him?

Photo by Ran Berkovich on Unsplash

What do you believe about God? AW Tozer famously wrote that what comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us. If what we think when we think of God is this important, how important is what we believe about God? Some people believe that belief is essential for miracles to occur. Some believe God is who He says He is, but that our world is going to Hell in a handbasket.

When I was in High School, I remember one summer I was working for my dad. A church member and I were the two-man crew assigned to cut the houses. I weed-eated and blew the driveways while he cut. He asked me on the way home how my training was going for cross-country and track. I told him it was fine, but that I don't train as hard as I wish because I was so tired from working every day. It happened to be the summer that the Olympics were occurring. He encouraged me to train hard and believe that I could one day compete in the Olympics.

I assured him that was not the case. He retorted that if I believed that God could do it, He would. I reassured him that no amount of belief would make me able to run a sub-four-minute mile. For context, my personal best in the mile was 4:36. We argued back and forth the whole way home. Was that man right? If I believed God could transform me into a world-class athlete would He?

I still do not believe so. I think a belief like that is not too big but too small. I have bigger fish to fry in my life than becoming an Olympian, which I promise you I never ever believed that was even a possibility. I have sin to be defeated and disciples to be made.

As I read through the Bible this year, I have been reminded time and time again of the problem with belief. The Israelites did not believe God could empower them to defeat the Canaanites and Amalekites. The Jews did not believe Jesus was the Son of God. They had the signs of the prophets and Jesus Himself. They believed only as long as things did not get too difficult. The Israelites were willing to follow Moses through the parted sea but not into battle against the giants of the land. The Jews were willing to eat the multiplied bread, but would not believe that Jesus was the bread of life.

I think we tend to have the same problem. We are willing to believe that Jesus forgives us of our sins. But what about overcoming them? Have you ever looked at your pride or anxiety and said, "That's just the way I am"? Sometimes our sin can seem like it is insurmountable. Yet, if God can close the mouths of lions when Daniel was thrown into the den, raise the dead, heal the blind, part the seas, and save our souls, I believe He can sanctify His people. What are pride, anxiety, greed, and anger to the God who made the walls of Jericho and the giant Goliath fall?

Then I look at the Great Commission that Jesus gave His disciples. "Make the nations my disciples." When I look at my nation, that feels like a daunting task. If we are honest, making disciples in our own church can sometimes feel overwhelming. But Jesus said, "All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me." He also promised He would be with His disciples until the end of this age. God will ensure that disciples are made.

KB in his song "Bring You War" once quipped, "My super power is I don't quit and a God who will go with." Every Christian who believes God will fulfill the Great Commission through our everyday efforts will be part of the Great Commission. This summer, I have been meeting with seven boys to go through a book together on being a godly man. I have seen some of these boys at their worst. I have seen them angry, deceiving, mischievous, and more. Yet, as crazy as it seems, I believe God can turn them into godly men. I know he can be because I was a young High school believer like them. And though I am not perfect, I know I look more like Jesus today than I did then. I also look at men in the church in America today and think I must be crazy to believe that these teenagers can be godly men when literal grown men today are acting like spiritual babies.

Even more so, when we look at the world, we may feel like evil is prevailing. But I believe that God, who saved Israel from Egypt, can not only save us from our sins but also do all that He promised in us. The God who transformed the life of Paul, a murderer, and Peter, a cowardly denier, can transform me and my brothers and sisters. He can kill my pride, calm my sister's anxiety, make men out of boys, and save the nations. I know that makes me sound as crazy as the guy who told me to believe I could make the Olympics. Yet, I believe the Bible tells us God wants to and will do this. Do you?