What is unbelief? Not believing? Not sure? Wishy-washy? Can’t make up your mind kind of thing? That uneasy feeling? Do you ever get discouraged by unbelief? That shoulder burden kind of discouraged? It’s not just a matter of having a bad attitude or just trying to think positive, but a real live weightiness. Peering at the ridge this morning, I started thinking about unbelievers. We’ve all been there. We’ve all been unbelievers at some point. None of us are born believers. Oh sure, some can’t look back to a time when they weren’t believers, but I’m not talking about just a belief. I’m talking about a living belief. The kind of belief that changes life – for you and all those around you. You see, if we aren’t changed, belief does us no good. Even the evil one believes.
As all these thoughts ran through my whacked out mind, waiting to be separated and solidified into some stream of understanding, I asked myself the question – Am I an unbeliever? How about you? Do I always believe in His power? Can He really handle this problem, without my help? Do I always believe in His omniscience? Does He really know everything? Do I always believe in His salvation? He can save even me? Do I always believe in His presence? He’s here with me right now? Well, since you put it that way…
If I’m lay it all out there-honest, sometimes I am an unbeliever. Some say that’s not possible if you’re a Christian. I say pshaw! Belief is an absolute kind of thing. We either believe or we don’t. We can’t half believe, or sort of believe. But, our faith is not perfected here on earth. Oh, it will be one day, but not while we are still in this world. While I’m still in this world, there may be times I struggle with belief in God’s power, in His perfection, in His grace, in His mercy, in His provision. Yes, I do struggle with unbelief. But, belief is a process. You see, if we believe in God, are obedient to Him, seek His Word and are guided by it, we are in the process of being made perfect, being made holy, sanctification is happening.
Then many who hear him say these things believed in him.
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “ But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, ‘set free’?”
“Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a place in you hearts.”
John 8:30-37
Do you see that? Jesus was talking to the people who believed in Him. Even the Jews who believed in Jesus struggled with unbelief, with understanding.
“But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“’If you can’?” said Jesus ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24
The more I see God’s power, the more powerful I believe He is. I do believe! The more I see God’s love, the more loving I will believe He is. I do believe! The more I read God’s Word, the more I understand and am guided by it. I do believe! The more I seek God’s voice, the more I listen for it, the more I will hear it. I do believe! The more, the more, the more. I do believe! I do believe! I do believe! In order for our belief to grow, the Light must always be getting brighter in our darkness, kind of like a de-dimmer.
As long as there is breath in the lungs there is hope for the heart. Breathe in the hope that belief brings. Breathe in the hope that brings salvation for friends. Breathe in the hope that His grace is enough. Breathe in the hope that His mercy never fails. Breathe in the hope that His power can change anything. Breathe in the hope that He is persistent. Breathe in the hope that He will help us in our unbelief, if we only believe enough to call to Him – help me overcome my unbelief!