Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

Home Bible Reflection What if we lived out what we say we believe?

What if we lived out what we say we believe?

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Supper at Emmaus
Rembrandt's Supper at Emmaus

A woman beginning her ninth decade laughs when she is told that she will bear a son. Her husband is ten years her senior which adds to the seeming impossibility. In response to her laughter, God asks Abraham a question, “is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14)

Fast forward a couple of millennia. Two men are walking with a stranger who explains how the Scriptures pointed to Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. Before the stranger began his lecture he said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25). The two men should have seen it coming, but their lack of faith prevented the insight.

Since we know how these stories turned out, since we know all the details before and after these events, it is too easy for us to think that we would have responded differently. It may be different for you but I don’t think I would have.

Why would I say this? Honesty dictates that I do.

A few nights ago, we watched the movie “Not a Fan” which makes a distinction between fans of Jesus and followers of Jesus. Fans fall away at the first sign of trouble. Followers stick it out even when it is difficult. This movie is a call to radical obedience to the commands and precepts of Scripture.

A favorite quote from G. K. Chesterton comes to mind: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” Why has it been left untried? Because I am slow of heart to believe the promises of Scripture. Like Sarah, I do not appropriate the fact that nothing is too hard for God.

I’m not talking (writing) about head knowledge here. Sure I acknowledge the truth that God is fully in control, I say I believe this, but do I really live it out? Sadly, I do not.

What would my life look like if I lived in the full knowledge that God is in control, that he will take care of me and I only need to be radically obedient? What would my church look like if all of us did this? What would our world look like if the Church lived this out?

The question remains, “is anything too hard for the LORD?”