Seeing No Man Save Jesus Only

Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 11:22

If I live to see June 22nd of this year It will be 26 years of serving the Lord. Over those 26 years I have learned a lot about God in studying the Bible and the life of Jesus. I have learned a lot about man by reading history, literature, and philosophy. I have also learned a lot about myself. The conclusion that I have come to after all of these years is that my faith in man has wavered, but my faith in God is stronger than ever before!

I figured that at this point in my walk with God that I would have had all the answers. As a young believer I had some many questions and such a hungering and thirst for God that there was a sense of wonder that kept me going and pursuing after God. That sense of wonder is still there and I still find myself seeking God more than ever before, but the angle and motive is different now. Now I have more questions than I do answers and find myself wrestling with much deeper issues that have even deeper answers.

G K Chesterton said “I am still as much concerned as ever about the Battle of Armageddon; but I am not so much concerned about the General Election.” What is Chesterton implying? The same implication that every great scholar, theologian, and mature believer in Christ comes to that at some point in time we will lose our faith in man, and fully look to God.

Over the last few decades politics, politicians, governments, religious leaders, and even people we know have let us down at some point. And with that let down so many Christians faith in God has collapsed. That is the crises moment at which we as believers either look up or look back. Evangelist Keith Speed said in a sermon many years ago something I will never forget. He said “If you look to man you will be disappointed; if you look at yourself you will be disgusted; but if you look to Jesus you will be delighted.” I have found this to be true over these last 26 years. People have let me down. I have let myself down. But Jesus has always lifted me up!

Peter, James, and John learned from God the Father that even though Moses and Elijah were great men in whom he accomplished great things they were still men and were not worthy of being worshipped! Just do a study on their lives and you will see not only many strengths, but also many weaknesses. Let us not get distracted by the false promises of politicians and the false prophecies of the religious charlatans of our day that have promised things that they could not deliver on. Let us not put our trust and hopes in political parties, denominationalism, and other other movements that are trying to position themselves in our culture today. No let us look to Jesus and place our faith fully in him to help us be that Christian church that God has called us to be for such a time as this.

C S Lewis after his experience in WWI had lost his faith in mankind. Every great theologian that I have ever read behind experienced this crises in their life. But it was at this point they became great theologians because that’s when they put their faith in God. Lewis went on to be the most influential theologians of his time and that influence still goes on today. Because he looked to God, when I read his works I can’t help but to look to God as well. What an influence! This is the type of influence that we should crave for. Our words and our lives should point to one who is higher than we are but is yet within us and because we are so conformed to Christ they can’t help but to “take knowledge that we have been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

Have faith in God!!!

Pastor Robby