How many people have seen the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”? You may recall or be able to picture the scene I am about to describe. Indiana Jones is proceeding through an obstacle course of sorts as he draws nearer to the location of the “Holy Grail”, the prize which he seeks. After avoiding pitfalls and giant blades, Indy find himself on the verge of a great ravine only to see a lighted cave on the other side, but how to get there?!? Indy looks to the last of his clues which have guided him so far and realizes that it speaks of faith. With a giant leap he hurls himself out into the ravine and lands on an invisible walkway which leads to the lighted cave and the prize with in.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is “the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen.” As Christians, we quickly identify with Indiana Jones’ leap of faith. We see the parallel between Indy hurling himself out into the unknown and the faith needed for the Christian walk. But in real life do we do that? Or do we look for some way of seeing the unseen? For example, when it comes to our stewardship, do we give trusting the Lord’s providence or do we peek at the balance and figure in the bills before we write the check? Is that a lack of faith or financial responsibility? Money is just one area of life that requires faith. But it causes us to examine what kind of faith we are practicing?
A better question would be, “What type of faith does God require?” That’s what we want to look at, so lets turn in our bibles to Luke chapter 4. Luke 4 verse 14-30 where we are reminded again to respond to life’s doubts with active faith in God. Tonight we will see that there will be reason’s to doubt God. We will examine the right and the wrong response to doubt. Join me now in Luke chapter 4 verses 14-30 as we are reminded to respond to life’s doubts with active faith in God.
As we pick up the life of Christ in chapter four of Luke we read verses 14-15, “Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Soon he became well known throughout the surrounding country. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.” Here we see that Jesus returning. From earlier chapters we understand that he has just spend forty days in the wilderness where he faced and withstood the temptation by the devil. We see that Jesus has begun public ministry and word of His miracles is becoming well known throughout the region.
In verses 16-20 we see Jesus carrying out His ministry. On the day of worship, He went to the synagogue as usual and took part in the service by reading the scripture and teaching about it. We need to note here that the passage that Jesus chose to read and explain was a section in Isaiah that the Jews believed was referring to the coming Messiah. In verse 21 we read, “Then He said, “This scripture has come true today before your very eyes.” There was no mistaking what Jesus is saying, “I am the Messiah.” You can imagine that the whole place was stone silent. Maybe a few uncomfortable coughs and alot of eye shifting as everyone looked to one another to see how to respond.
This is not what people had expected. Earlier we see that news of Jesus was spreading because of his miracles. No doubt that people packed the synagogue that morning expecting to see some great display of magic. Maybe some word was out that this man was a gifted interpreter of the word. But it is doubtful that people expected Him to identify Himself as the Messiah. Understand that this is the first time that Jesus Himself claims to be the Christ. Sure there was John, that loony man down by the Jordan and some reported a voice from heaven, but who can believe everything you hear. Now here right before them, Jesus is claim to be the long awaited Messiah.
The first thing we need to understand in order to respond to doubt with active faith is that there will be reasons for our doubt. Notice the people’s response in verse 22, “How can this be?” they asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Sure they were amazed at this guy’s teaching ability but to be the Messiah? There is the saying that familiarity breeds contempt or at least apathy. These people were too familiar with Jesus, they knew His family and Him. Surely the Messiah would not be a carpenter’s son. Who knows maybe they were expecting someone of more regal lineage. Someone like Moses who grew up in the King’s palace only to shun it all a deliver the nation. Whatever it was in their minds they had reason to doubt.
When we face times of faith there will be reasons for doubt. Think about it. Without doubt there would be no reason for faith. But we keep looking for the neon signs telling us that this is the right decision don’t we? Maybe we accept that there will be doubt, but does it have to be so much? We want situations where things are black and white. Right choice, wrong choice. And yet so much of life seems to be a perfect shade of gray. And this paralyzes us. As a younger Christian, I was under the impression that the more I grew in Christ the less doubt that I would face. What I am finding is that my doubts are not decreasing, the world is still as gray, but my faith is increasing to met those doubts. Let us recognize that there will be doubts regardless of how strong a Christian we are.
Now that we understand that we will face doubt in life, what choices do we have? In verses 23-30 we see the wrong response and the right response. The wrong response is to wait demanding that more proof be given. In verses 23-24, Jesus reveals the heart of the people to be unconvinced. The proverb, “Physician, heal yourself” reflected the attitude of the people. In other words, “If you claim to be the Messiah prove it.” But Jesus refused to be dictated by the wants of the people. We read again and again that Jesus did perform miracles after this. Why wouldn’t He do them now? Maybe Jesus knew that no matter what signs he gave them, their stubborn hearts would not believe. Or maybe Jesus was making the point that faith based on proof is not really faith at all. The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see. How much are we like the African impala? We want to understand, we want to see where we will land before we commit. We are like Thomas who wants to feel the wounds of Christ before he will believe. We want to throw out the fleece. But what we don’t understand is that seeing the results beforehand is not faith in God it is only acting on what He reveals to us. This is the wrong response to doubt.
In verses 25 through 27 we see the right response to doubt. Jesus reminds the people of the faith of the widow at Zarepeth and Naaman the leper. In 1 Kings 17:13, the widow was commanded by Elijah to use up the last of her flour and oil to feed him with the promise that there would be more. In 2 Kings 5:9 Elisha tells Naaman to wash himself in the river seven times with the promise of healing. What do you think would have happened if either the widow or Naaman would have claimed to have faith but not gone on and done what was asked of them? What if the widow hadn’t used up all her flour or what if Naaman hadn’t gone down to the river? Do you think they would have received the promise? Probably not, we imagine. But notice how these two evidenced their faith with obedience. I know that there are examples of faith rewarded without obedience, but in those cases there was no instruction to act out the faith.
It is easy for us in the church to claim to have faith. We will readily admit that we are saved by faith. But what happens after the initial point of Salvation? All of a sudden it is as if we put God back on trial demanding that He prove Himself with each little crisis we face. But God knows that we will never grow in faith and taste the sweet victories that faith brings until we step out in faith alone. The story is told about a house that caught on fire trapping a little boy in his room. He ran to the window when he heard his father’s voice calling to him from outside. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I’ll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to jump. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can’t see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that’s all that matters." How much are we like that little boy when we face the fires of doubt? But do we understand that we are destined to die in the flames of doubt unless we act in faith?
In the end we see that Luke recalls the reaction of the crowd to Jesus’ refusal and subsequent rebuttal. In their anger they try to kill Jesus, but he will not let them for it is not yet time. And so it is left to us, will we accept Jesus’ response of acting faith or the crowd’s response of rejection. I doubt that any of us would willingly choose to side with the crowd and yet what do our actions say?
I heard this illustration before and I like it: Let’s suppose for a moment that you find yourself out in some desert somewhere and you have no idea where you are or where you are going. You have no food, but most of all you have no water. After wandering you come upon a wood shack that is deserted, but inside is a water pump with a jar of water next it with a note. The note explains that the pump will work but you must first prime it with the water in the jar. The note warns that it will take all the water in the jar to get the pump to work. What would you do?
What would we do? Some of us would drink the water in the jar, some of us would drink some of the water and use the rest and some of us would use all the water to prime the pump. So it is in our Christian life. Some of us don’t live by faith at all, some of us sort of do and others are more fully committed. If anyone if feeling beat down right now, don’t be. This is not a guilt trip, but rather an invitation. An invitation to a better life, one trusting more in God and less in self. One that leads to greater rewards and joy. As we go about our daily lives, let us not be overcome with anxiousness and doubt. Rather let us see that we have an opportunity to respond with faithful obedience drawing nearer to the joy of knowing God better. The bigger the doubt, the bigger the chance to take a right step towards faith, towards joy, towards intimacy with God. This week respond to doubt with active faith in God.
