S T O N E S
What Stone Will You Let Jesus Roll Away Today?
May 31st, 2023
UNBELIEF: o Ye of Little Faith
Luke 24:2, ‘But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.’ (NKJV)
“I love the imagery of the stone that covered Jesus’ tomb rolling away when He defeated death. The reality is, we all have stones in our lives…but the good news is: Jesus Christ rolls stones away!” (Christine Caine)
Perhaps of all the stones, the heaviest and hardest to allow Jesus to roll away is the stone of unbelief.
John 20:26-29, ‘Eight days later, His disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then He focused His attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine My hands. Take your hand and stick it in My side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.” Thomas said, “My Master! My God!” Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” (MSG)
There is a little bit—and sometimes a lot—of ‘Doubting Thomas’ inside each one of us. Isn’t it so much easier to believe what we can see, what we can touch with our hands, what we tread on with our feet. In fact, belief and trust, which naturally are partners who walk hand-in-hand, is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, so we know it is important to God also.
Matthew 14:25-31, ‘Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” (NIV)
Jesus’ closest friends, who walked with Him day by day, and witnessed the many miraculous things Jesus did, still did not believe and trust what they saw. They too cried out in unbelief, and asked what we might think of today, as unnecessary questions. But can you imagine, had we not Scripture to read that tells us ‘the rest of the story’, how difficult it might be to trust our eyes and beliefs to what we are witnessing play out in front of us?! Goodness, I have watched the faithfulness of God moment after moment. I have seen Him do the unimaginable. I have been the object of His affection and grace as He poured out on the altar of my life the sacrifice of His Son. He has hand-fed me daily provision and watered my soul with the kindness and gentleness of His touch when my heart was thirsty and starved. He has done the miraculous in this sin-ravaged life. He glued back together all the broken fragments and tied up the raveled frays when I came undone. Still, I question His trustworthiness, I imagine, just like the doubting dozen who roamed with Him daily.
We have layer after layer in this life of unbelief and distrust that gets heaped on us. In fact, if you haven’t realized it yet, this world is unkind. It will do little to be reliable and convincing. You’re on your own with that one, whispers the enemy in our ears as soon as we mess up and do the very thing with which he has been tantalizing us. But Jesus displayed His heart by allowing it to be nailed to a tree for all who did not believe so they might believe. Jesus will not let us be left in our unbelief. He will come to us in the midst of it, accommodating our doubt by showing us the realness of His presence and granting us the truthfulness of His promise.
Becoming a person of integrity—GRIT—authenticity, stick-to-it-tive-ness, trustworthiness is as bizarre and austere to the onlooking world as a pink polka-dotted elephant, but I promise, you won’t be forgotten if you wear Jesus’ character as your everyday wardrobe. There is little doubt, you will affect an unbelieving world.
“IT IS FINISHED!”
