Belief

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24)

On the afternoon of July 20, 1969, I was driving a taxi while the Apollo 11 astronauts were walking on the moon. A Middle Eastern gentleman had just settled into the back seat as Neil Armstrong’s famous words were broadcast around the world: “That’s one small step for man… one giant leap for mankind.” With a sense of universal accomplishment, I turned to my rider and asked, “What do you think about us landing on the moon?” The man’s eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked straight at me and exclaimed, “You believe that?” He laughed, dismissing the notion with a wave of his hand. “Hollywood!” he retorted, suggesting I was a gullible man. As I drove on in silence, my thoughts progressed from feeling insulted to a new understanding of the nature of belief.   

Often, we are challenged to believe things that go against what seems possible, logical, or likely. No doubt most of us watched in total disbelief as the space shuttle Challenger exploded during its ascent. Similarly, the radio and television silence was ominous as the reality set in that the space shuttle Columbia had burned up during re-entry. Both incidents were examples of what we call a "surreal" moment—something unreal, bizarre, or dreamlike. When Jesus’ disciples were told that He had risen from the dead, the news “seemed to them an idle tale” (Luke 24:11). Though they had traveled with Him, witnessed countless miracles, and been briefed regarding His impending crucifixion and resurrection, the reality was still too much to easily accept as fact.   

I suspect that the Gospel and the works of Jesus fall into this category. We begin our journey toward the Kingdom of God as spiritual toddlers singing, “Jesus loves me, this I know,” envisioning a Good Shepherd leading and protecting us as His precious lambs. We imagine Jesus each Easter standing miraculously in front of the tomb. These images are often embraced with the same simplicity as childhood fables. However, as we journey into adulthood, our beliefs must become rational decisions based upon life experiences and convictions that affect the actual outcome of our lives.   

Spiritual beliefs can profoundly alter our trajectory. In a single day, God purged the children of Israel of unbelief when Moses held up the bronze serpent in the wilderness. Jesus revealed that He, too, came to be lifted up—just like that serpent—to open the way into the Kingdom of God for believers. To this day, those of us who look to Jesus and truly believe are born into the Kingdom of God; our eternal life begins at that moment. We have thereby “crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). But those who refuse to believe in the redeeming work of Jesus remain barred from the Kingdom, having chosen a finite end to their lives.   

Faith in Jesus as an adult requires a level of conviction and confidence that only God’s Holy Spirit can perfect. We simply cannot adequately believe in Him without the "Comforter" or the "Helper" (John 14:15–26). Working out our salvation is only one faith-based challenge in our Christian walk; providence and healing are among many others. The cry of the father who brought his son to Jesus to be healed was so candid. He believed Jesus was able to heal his son, yet Jesus pressed him regarding the quality of his faith. The man then articulated what we all experience. Perhaps one of our most sincere daily requests to God should be that of the father who cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Father, we thank You that You do not leave us to navigate the complexities of faith alone. Strengthen our convictions, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within us to move us beyond childhood stories into a mature, resilient trust in You and Your Word. When our logic fails or the world’s skepticism grows loud, keep us anchored our in the reality of Your Kingdom. Help us to be a living testaments to the truth that we have already crossed from death to life. Amen.

mgb