Without a Doubt

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

-- Matthew 14:31

         

It's been said that if you have enough faith to believe the first four words of the Bible ("In the beginning, God..."), the rest of Scripture is easy. Still, even long-time Christ-followers can have their moments of doubt--particularly in times of crisis, such as with a job loss, a serious illness or the death of a loved one. 

But trusting in God's promises extends well beyond current relationships, employment status and finances. His guarantees found throughout the Bible are eternal. And we can take them all to the bank because of their proven record of reliability. For example, God promised through the Old Testament's Book of Amos that the city of Tyre would be destroyed because of its harsh treatment of Israel. A few centuries later, the armies of Alexander the Great indeed leveled Tyre's impregnable fortress walls. God also promised to reunite his scattered chosen people from around the globe. About 2,500 years later in 1948, God did just that through the birth of the State of Israel.

It doesn't stop there. J. Barton Payne's Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy lists more than 1,800 other promises from God. And no doubt his greatest was fulfilled--as predicted in detail centuries earlier--through the birth of the world's Savior (Jesus) in an obscure outpost of the Roman Empire. It was that first Christmas that God came to Earth to personally experience the human condition.

This fulfillment of God's promise was much more than a footnote in history. Through Jesus, the devil was defeated and Christ-followers were given the power to live victorious, Spirit-filled lives. And can't we all benefit from that today? Let's consider these words of assurance that are still relevant 20 centuries after Christ's death and resurrection:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny," Jesus asked some of his followers. "Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

That's our Creator's promise to you and me: his deep concern for us. He also knows each of us intimately--even before the foundation of the earth. In fact, the Book of Isaiah tells us that our very names are written on the palms of his hands!

As Christ-followers, uncertainties about our faith will come and go. But we should be reassured that ours is a God who loves us and has wondrous plans for our future. 

There's no doubt about it.