“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain , ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt 17:20 NIV)
James (that may or may not have been his name) wrested with doubt as he stared at this Bible text. But then he made a firm decision: “The next time I am confronted with the impossible, I will claim that mustard seed kind of faith and reveal God’s glory!”
The next day, as he was waiting impatiently at a bus stop, he heard yelling in the alley behind him. Then there was a loud bang, followed by complete silence. He knew beyond a doubt that someone had been shot. “I had better stay out of this!” he thought to himself.
But for some reason, the words of Matthew 17:20 popped back into his mind and he remembered his promise of the night before. With hesitation, he stepped into the alley to face a gang of youngsters. Feeling much like David standing before Goliath, he tremblingly approached the man lying in the dirt. Soft moans bubbled up from his mouth as he clutched his chest. Blood tainted both his shirt and his left arm. It was obvious that he had been shot in the chest.
Looking around quickly, James realized that all eyes were upon him. Several of the youngsters still had switchblades and other intriguing weapons in their hands. “This is not a good place to be,” he muttered to himself. But he had to keep his promise, even in the midst of adversity. He knelt down by the hurt individual and laid his hand on the man’s chest.
“Loco!” screamed one of the youngsters behind him.
“Why did I put myself in this situation?” he mumbled, then he quickly prayed that he would be able to show his mustard seed of faith. His hands trembled as he whispered: “In the name of our Lord Jesus rise up!”
As James looked down at the moaning man in front of him, the eyes of the gangsters widened with amazement at his audacity. James quietly lifted the hand that clutched the chest, sure that he would now see whole flesh. But his eyes widened in fear as he realized that the wound was, indeed, still there, and if anything, it was bleeding even more profusely than it had been before. No miraculous healing had occurred! Looking around him, he said in a voice that trembled with emotion: “Someone go and call an ambulance!” Then he slumped over in utter defeat.
James’ “mountain” hadn’t moved. Why? Hadn’t he show at least a mustard seed kind of faith? How many believers would even put themselves in a similar situation? Why didn’t God answer his prayer?
Most of us can relate to James’ situation. I mean, don’t we all show at least a mustard seed kind of faith from time to time? Don’t we all step out in faith once in awhile, only to fail miserably?
Is it possible that for many of us, the Kingdom isn’t a reality? It is possible that we are so blinded by the world that the unseen spiritual realities seem surreal to us? I mean, let’s be real here. How many of us have actually witnessed gunshot victims coming back to life? It’s not the norm, is it? And how many of us have actually seen lame legs mended and blind eyes opened? Why are healing crusades so much more successful in third world countries than in our own home nation?
Is it possible that we may believe in God’s willingness to heal, but that we don’t accept the possibility that this can be done through our own hands?
But wait. If the power plug works with certain believers, why doesn’t it work in our own hands? Have we plugged it into the wrong outlet?
The Bible gives us two reasons why we face this dilemma: Lack of faith, and lack of dependence.
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13 NIV)
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14 NIV)
Faith and dependence on God are intertwined. The two cannot exist without one another. If we do not depend on God’s Spirit for guidance, but rely on ourselves instead, we will end up facing a dead end, no matter how noble our motives may be. If we have even the tiniest doubt about God’s mercy and power, we are doomed for frustration and disappointment, because without these two essential elements, we have allowed ourselves to become deprived of the authority God gave us. Our power plug must be two-pronged: One prong must be connected into God’s Spirit for guidance and direction; the other must be connected into faith in God.
Notice the results when our two-pronged plug is connected with the right outlets: “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.” (Acts 5:14-16 NIV)
We have power in Christ! Let’s plug into the right outlet and use it! Life will dramatically change when God’s reality becomes more real to us than the realities of this world!
P. S. Anyone wants to help poor James in the alley? He could sure use it!
P. S.S. Just like Job, some may wonder why they remain unhealed. This is another topic altogether, but the answer can be found in the book of Job. Just remember this: If you are kingdom bound, you WILL be healed one day. Never doubt that! God is with you, and you will face eternity without infirmity. This is a guarantee!
Rob Chaffart