Only Believe
Have you ever wanted do something and had that one person who overcomplicated it with all the things that could go wrong, thus making it seem impossible to do?
Overcomplicating, no matter how well intentioned, can be a faith and joy killer. I get that there’s a time for attention to detail, but unwittingly overcomplicating something can derail the thing originally desired to start with.
Over complicating happens when someone gets too caught up in the how from a logical point of view. It leads to imagining all the things that may prevent the how, before the desire can even take root in the heart. Jesus witnessed this when He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead.
John 11:38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
Over the years I have witnessed many putting a strong emphasis on the glory of God in an effort to create a desire for it in others. Years ago I was one of the ones guilty of ignorantly doing such a thing. In an effort to see manifested glory, it’s possible to get too caught up in the how and over complicate it until it seems impossible to see it happen. Jesus, makes things simple, and thus doable.
The simple key to any experience of the glory of God is revealed by the Lord Himself. “If you believe.”
Jesus said, “these signs shall follow those who believe” He did not say those who do these signs will believe. Believing precedes any true experience that is real.
In the case with Lazarus’ sisters and friends Jesus did not say if you do certain things you will witness the glory of God. He said very clearly, “if you believe.” Lazarus was raised from the dead against the natural realities of being in the grave for four days and already decomposing. That is an exhibition of glory! One of the strongest exhibitions there is, and Jesus said it was available by just believing. When it comes to experiencing God in all His fullness the Holy Spirit reveals,
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches the Father may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Here we find Jesus dwells in our hearts, “by faith.” It also reveals that faith is the result of the Father strengthening us in our inner man. We also discover that by growing in our knowing the love of Christ we are filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. This is just so simple. It is encouraging us to pursue knowing the love of Christ which will result experiencing the measure of all the fullness of God.
This simplifies it so that it is attainable for every believer no matter who they are. It makes the glory of God accessible! Only believe! Everything in His kingdom is received and operates through faith. I encourage you today to look to Jesus and believe in His goodness that has promised you glorious encounters with God on the basis of what He has done on your behalf already. Only believe.
