But What About You?

Early on when I first started following Jesus (from a distance) I bought myself a big thick study Bible. You know, the kind of Bible that has notes from "scholars" on every page under the verses which told me what the verses mean. I would read the Bible, and of course in many cases I had no idea what it meant so I quickly glanced down at the study notes and read what the scholars told me it means. This went on for years. In fact, when people would ask me about certain passages I would quickly speak up and just regurgitate the notes from my study Bible. It made me look pretty smart. It even made me think I was smart. Not only smart, but it made others think I was close to God. I kind of liked looking smart. I also liked not having to spend more time talking to God trying to find the answers I was seeking.

There was just one glaring problem with that - I never got to know God for myself. The "scholars" served as a mediator between me and God so I never got to know Him personally. If I had a question, I would "go" to the scholars rather than lean into the Holy Spirit. Looking back, I didn't know God as well as I thought I did. In fact, I don't think I knew Him very well at all. The bad fruit in my life demonstrated  where my roots were truly planted - in the minds of men rather than the Word of God.

When Pilate was questioning Jesus before His crucifixion, he asked Jesus, "Are you King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?"

For some reason Jesus was really concerned about the source of people's knowledge of Him. There was another time after His resurrection when He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" The disciples replied that some people thought He was John the Baptist, some thought He was Elijah, some just a prophet, etc. But then Jesus followed up with a more direct question, "But who do YOU say that I am?" Then Peter blurted out, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Because of Peter's response, Jesus told him that he was really blessed because men didn't reveal that to him, but the Father revealed that to him from heaven. In fact, Jesus said that direct revelation from God would serve as the foundation of His church (Matt. 16:18).

When I was a boy I used to collect baseball cards. On the back of the cards there were the statistics of each of the players including their batting average, home runs and that kind of thing. I got really familiar with some of the players. In a couple cases I even got their autographs. But I never knew them. Not even one.

I've learned there is a big difference between knowledge about God and knowing God personally. Jesus didn't say that we will learn to recognize the voice of other sheep, He said His sheep will hear His voice. We must not let anyone stand between us and God - not a pastor, not a priest and certainly not any study notes. God doesn't want fans. He wants friends.

The Remedy

We can think of 'sin' as a virus which is in the world, in the air around us within the spiritual dimension. Some people are dying from this virus and don't even know it, nor would they have any reason to know about the vaccine. They are too busy to concern themselves with conspiracy theories like that anyway.

Other people are dying from the virus and know it, but they see the vaccine as too risky. Based on what they have seen so far, the effectiveness of the vaccine hasn't been proven. The side effects may not be worth it - they figure dying slowly may outweigh the perceived negative side effects of the vaccine.

And then others rush to take the vaccine but then see some lingering effects of the virus around them and lose faith in the vaccine's effectiveness. This uncertainty cancels out the work of the vaccine and keeps it dormant within them with no effect. Because they have lost faith in the vaccines ability to save them, they stay away from all others who appear to be infected with the virus thinking they might become contaminated. It's really no use telling other people about the vaccine - these people don't really believe it works anyway. They figure if they get really sick from the virus in the future they will just go to the hospital and get a booster shot to see if the dormant vaccine inside them will start working. For these people, the vaccine inside them is really more of a personal life insurance policy.

Still others recognize both the virus and also the dramatic effect the vaccine has had on the people who really believe it works. These people see how, when mixed with belief, the vaccine not only cancels out the work of the virus but also reverses its effects.

These people take the vaccine and let it radiate throughout their bodies. They tend to it. They feed it. They fan it into flame. They trust the seed will grow even before it pops through the dirt.

Soon, these people continue to breathe in the contaminated air around them without suffering from any negative effects of the virus. They become bold - the fear of the virus has lost it's grip on them. They walk right into the epicenter of the outbreak. The virus simply dies when it comes into contact with them. It's as if they are now clothed in a robe of protection. The virus no longer has a place to stick. It no longer has any power.

"For you, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - 1 John 4:4