Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Thunder
(Read Romans 10)
Throughout my life, I’ve experienced some revelations that have crushed a long-held belief. Santa Claus is real, my parents are perfect, our family is normal; those kind of beliefs come crashing down when you get to meet the reality of the truth behind them. With my faith journey, this has happened more than once. There’s a pastor I’ve been listening to for at least 15 years. He has a sizable library of sermons from a multitude of churches where he has served. His messages have always provided me a source of truthful inspiration. I have quoted him in conversations, in church, and in small group meetings.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:17
For many Christian believers, Lent is a time of sacrifice. It’s a symbolic period mirroring the 40 days when Jesus struggled in the desert without food or water. Many years ago, I decided that my sacrifice was going to include learning more about Jesus Christ. Aside from my quiet time spent with the Bible, I would devote one hour each day researching and pouring over historical accounts of Jesus’ life. It was one hour when I wasn’t in front of the television or idly wasting time but as it turned out, it wasn’t much of a sacrifice because what I discovered was fascinating.
Some friends warned me that this might erode my faith. There were several references to Jesus that were troubling. It is the internet so you have to remember that anything goes. But during the span of 40 days, the more I learned, the more time I spent immersing myself in the historical person of Jesus Christ, the more my belief in Him as my Savior grew stronger. I will never forget one night during my readings about Him, I happened upon what a first-century Jewish historian wrote about Jesus.
He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.
Flavius Josephus was a Pharisee and eventually defected to win Roman citizenship. So, not a Christian sympathizer by any stretch. And yet here’s a respected historian describing Jesus as the “Christ,” meaning “anointed one” in Greek or “messiah” in Hebrew. Christ was more of a title than a name. Jesus was attributed this title by an authority whose accounts people still value today. The authenticity of Jesus as the Christ was stamped in historical documents! This blew me away.
My quest for the historical Jesus could have led me down a rabbit hole where I would eventually question everything I ever knew about Him. Or worse, it could have removed my faith in what I believed of Him. Instead, like a mustard seed, my faith got bigger. Faith is belief in action. It is a living, moving thing that is constantly evolving.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
The pastor I mentioned above started a video series questioning the validity of long-held beliefs of some Christians. As described, the series will deconstruct some things we know and then reconstruct them at the conclusion. I’m early into the series, so I need to be fair in saying that I can’t make assumptions as to where it’s going. While watching the first two episodes though, I have been really bothered by some of this unpacking. Then it dawned on me, am I troubled because of what he was saying or because I’m afraid of what it will do to my faith?
At a former church we attended, a pastor’s message was, “What’s in a name?” She declared there are a lot of words that people can use for Jesus. True. I speak English so that’s what I call Him. Jesus is also referred to as Savior, Teacher, Lord, Yesus, Íosa, Tsisa, and Yeshua. But not window, tree, or bubble. There are certain truths that serve as load-bearing columns to our faith. There are other beliefs we hold that mean a lot to us emotionally but don’t support God’s truth. It’s important to be aware of the distinction.
Is our faith ever tested in life? Absolutely. It’s probably healthy for it to be challenged. When I’ve heard something that tries to rock my faith boat, I don’t let it. When I’ve been discouraged from someone who is a source of inspiration, I don’t let it alter the core of my faith either. There are setbacks with our faith just as we experience in life. There are people in our faith journey who we probably idolize and when we see their human side, it’s eye-opening. That’s the whole thing, we shouldn’t idolize them or anything or anyone.
Before our first child was born, I was number one in my wife’s life. Number two actually, if you count our dog. Everything I did was her primary concern. After our son was born, I moved way down the list. It was an adjustment for me, but that’s how it’s supposed to work. The same goes with how we prioritize God in our life. When we worship someone, something other than God as though it were God, we are putting Him second based on our desire. How can our faith in God’s promises be that strong when it comes second to our love for our jobs, our spouse, our partners, our children, our money, our security, or any other “our” thing?
What I learned this week, especially from the video series that I will continue to watch, is that I need to have faith in my faith. My faith is legit and can withstand pebbles being thrown at it. Even large rocks. Instead of looking at instances that crush my faith, or steal my thunder, I need to look at who props me above it all. Jesus Christ died for me just as the Bible said He would. The hope from that promise and a million other promises from God gives me faith.
This faith we have is not about personal goals, optimism, or the glass is half-full, it’s faith in the promises of God as told in the Bible. This faith is given to us — it is our thunder.
For David says in reference to Him, “‘I constantly fixed my eyes upon the Lord, because He is at my right hand in order that I may continue unshaken.”
Acts 2:25
Key Application:
- Think about a time in your journey as a believer of Christ, when your faith was tested. Were you concerned that it would break? How did you get through the challenge? For me, the most helpful thing to do is to shift my attention from what is attacking my faith to who can pull me out. Go to Jesus. If you want to learn more about Him open up the book and pray — talk to Him.
- Read this passage below. Is your attention filled with things that are seen or unseen? Pray that God is the first and the last in your waking moments.
As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.