I was reading the text for my university courses today and one of the things being discussed was people adopting reassuring views to manage.
No doubt many people wonder whether there is a God and have an underlying sense of fear of what is going to happen in the future.
This is true to a certain degree with most people, as everyone medicates their feelings of unease and fear in a bid to find comfort in a world that is often uncomfortable.
However, the thing about Jesus and a belief in Him is that both He and those who follow Him testify to who He says He is - that He is God, His demonstrations of power and how He has made Himself known in their lives.
Jesus messed with every funeral he went to, raising the dead to life, ministering to all who came to him; opening blind eyes, deaf ears, and healing lame bodies. He restored leprous skin to normal, stopped the women’s issue of blood who had been bleeding for twelve years, cured the young man who kept on having seizures and throwing himself into the fire and mended broken hearts and minds.
The thing I love is that Jesus knew that we would question the validity of his words and the miracles He did, so he showed up in power and disputed any claim of his healings not being real, or that what he said or did was merely coincidental. You can't argue with a man born blind (that everyone knew in the town ), who on meeting Jesus can suddenly see. (John 9)
The good news is that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. What he did over 2000 years ago he still does today, and I’m blessed to be able to bear witness to that. (Hebrews 13:8)
I was a chronic asthmatic from 3 to 18 years old. I was very allergic to dust, pollen and cats and regularly had asthma attacks even with preventative medication. I vividly remember being so wheezy and short of breath I couldn’t even blow my 17th birthday cake candles out.
When I was eighteen I was visiting a friend’s house who was removing old carpet from their house. There was a lot of dust and I ended up having a nasty asthma attack which resulted in me being rushed to the emergency department. The next week whilst still recovering I went to a church prayer meeting and someone prayed for me for healing and that the asthma would go. From that moment until now, thirty-three years later I have not had another asthma attack. Every now and then when I am out for a run in cold weather, I'm especially reminded how good it is to be able to breathe unhindered. I can still remember what it felt like not to be able to take a breath easily and I am so thankful that Jesus is not only who He says he is, but also that he still heals today.
For people not to be afraid or stuck with issues in their life that Jesus died and rose again to heal and deliver them from, they'll need to hear and see demonstrations of God’s power at work in their life. Faith is not meant to be just a mental ascent but an everyday encounter with a living God who engages in our life on a daily basis. It's why it's so important we share what He has done in our life, and also that we keep believing for Jesus to work powerfully through and in us.
Demonstrations of His power and presence are not the only reason we believe He is who he says he is, but it sure does let the world know Jesus is real and my medical records, along with the countless others all around the world testify to that. The truth is, He is faithful, and no respecter of persons and what He did for me, He’ll do for others. (Acts 10:28, 34–35)
Today, whatever and wherever you are at with your believing and thoughts about what happens after this life is over, I want to encourage you to seek Jesus. He says if you seek him with all your heart, you will find him. It may be in witnessing or experiencing healing yourself, or just a knowing that he is there. You may feel Jesus or hear him whisper gently to your heart as He brings truth and comfort to your life. However he chooses to reveal himself to you, know that He is real, He sees you and He is still working the miraculous today. (Jeremiah 29:13; Romans 1:20)
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you see me and are still doing the miraculous and showing up in power, so that even modern science has to admit something has happened that they can’t explain away. Please help me to see where and when you are working all around me and to believe for bigger and more amazing things in my life and the lives of others. In Jesus name Amen