Not seeing is believing
Today’s Reading: John 20:29 (NIV)
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Good morning!
I was cooking breakfast yesterday morning when my telephone rang. It was my friend Jerry, who was feeling under the weather. The evangelism team was scheduled to meet in my home in about twenty minutes and Jerry wasn’t going to be there. He had prepared a fruit salad to share and wondered if I wouldn’t mind dropping by his home to pick it up. Jerry only lives five minutes from my house, so I left the frying of the bacon to the capable hands of my house guests and I grabbed by my car keys and left.
As I reached the apartment complex, I picked up my cell phone and called Jerry to tell him I was just outside. He told me that he did not feel enough to come to the front door but the door was unlocked and I could just come on in. Hurriedly, I walked into the building and knocked on the door. Turning the knob, the door opened and I said in a loud voice, “Jerry, I’m here. I’m coming inside.” The house was dark and quiet, except for the uncontrollable coughing coming from the bedroom. I became immediately concerned, wondering whether Jerry was okay. I said, “Jerry, are you all right? Do you need some help?” I hesitated for a second, wondering whether I should venture back toward the bedroom. Suddenly, a man whom I did not recognize came scrambling out of the bedroom, dressing as he came. All I can tell you is that I’m glad I didn’t faint. I suddenly realized that I was in the wrong apartment!
Now, I haven’t been able to find just the right words to adequately express my complete embarrassment in this particular situation. I wondered how in the world I could end up in the wrong place at the right time. Has this ever happened to you, or is it just me? This morning, I am glad to be alive. Here I was, an unintentional intruder in the home of a perfect stranger. I’ve determined that this is NOT the way to do personal evangelism, although I did find myself wishing I had a Bible tract or some other small gift to leave at the startled man’s feet. I apologized profusely, turned around and exited through the door that I walked through. I could hear the kind gentlemen laughing out loud hysterically as I left his apartment building. Somehow, this didn’t help me much. I can still him laughing this morning.
I ran back to my car and called Jerry. He said, “You must be lost.” Exasperated, I replied, “You have no earthly idea.”
Jesus understands our human dilemma. Even with the best of intentions, we often miss the Truth of the matter because we are too busy trying to see it for ourselves. We want tangible proof; we want to witness the miracle; we want to not have any doubts about our God. We want to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and know that this confession of faith will immediately make us healthy, wealthy and wise. When we don’t see immediate, tangible evidence, we wonder if He’s for real. We wonder if He’s really God. We wander off, lost in the maze of human thought and personal misinterpretation. We somehow lose sight of the Savior in our wondering and wandering.
Why do we insist on seeing Christ as a prerequisite to believing? There are times when NOT seeing is believing. Take my word for it. It may save you from opening the wrong door that you do not want to go through.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO
___________________________
© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
No comments:
Post a Comment