"Parched"
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith means a confident trust in God (His attributes) and His promises. Faith is the belief, acceptance, reception, and implementation of what we know about God and spiritual matters.
Faith is more than a cerebral affirmation of a fact regarding God or the spiritual realm. Because of the highly impactful nature of these truths, they require a response, a transformation, a different perspective, modifications to our lifestyles, and so forth. Therefore genuine faith necessitates action in some form or another in the form of specific, outward deeds and speech and internal transformation of the heart, mind, and soul.
PARCHED
Imagine that Kalee wandered off into a National Park in the middle of a scorching summer day. Before she knew it, she was turned around…lost. She wandered in circles for two whole days. By this time in the extreme heat she was dangerously dehydrated. Finally she stumbled upon an overnight hiker/camper.
Desperately she staggers to him, grabs him, and hoarsely asks, “Do you have water? Please, I must have a drink now!” The hiker observes her distressed condition and quickly informs her of his full canteen just a few yards that way at his camp. Kalee stares blankly him for several seconds and then proceeds to weakly wobble away in the opposite direction searching for water. The hiker is flabbergasted.
Later when Kalee was rescued and nursed back to health, the hiker asked her why she refused to drink his water immediately. He thought possibly she was mentally unstable (hallucinating) because of her deteriorated condition. However, Kalee responded that her mind was clear. She understood completely. The hiker was more bewildered than ever and wondered if she thought he was lying. Again, Kalee said she believed that he indeed had water at his campsite. Then why did she refuse to walk a few yards to the water and drink? No answer. It remains a total mystery. It boggles our minds.
Jesus offers the same water, except it is living water. Billions of unbelievers throughout the world must answer the same question. Why did they reject the Lord’s spring of living water when they were so parched and in a distressed condition spiritually, mentally, and physically? Millions of Christians must answer the same question. Why did they partake once or twice at the well and quench their thirst but then neglect to return repeatedly? It is a total mystery. It boggles our minds.
Does someone who refuses to live for God truly trust Him? Does a so-called “Christian” who confesses belief in the death and resurrection of Christ but fails to follow Him actually possess genuine faith?
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith means a confident trust in God (His attributes) and His promises. Faith is the belief, acceptance, reception, and implementation of what we know about God and spiritual matters.
Faith is more than a cerebral affirmation of a fact regarding God or the spiritual realm. Because of the highly impactful nature of these truths, they require a response, a transformation, a different perspective, modifications to our lifestyles, and so forth. Therefore genuine faith necessitates action in some form or another in the form of specific, outward deeds and speech and internal transformation of the heart, mind, and soul.
PARCHED
Imagine that Kalee wandered off into a National Park in the middle of a scorching summer day. Before she knew it, she was turned around…lost. She wandered in circles for two whole days. By this time in the extreme heat she was dangerously dehydrated. Finally she stumbled upon an overnight hiker/camper.
Desperately she staggers to him, grabs him, and hoarsely asks, “Do you have water? Please, I must have a drink now!” The hiker observes her distressed condition and quickly informs her of his full canteen just a few yards that way at his camp. Kalee stares blankly him for several seconds and then proceeds to weakly wobble away in the opposite direction searching for water. The hiker is flabbergasted.
Later when Kalee was rescued and nursed back to health, the hiker asked her why she refused to drink his water immediately. He thought possibly she was mentally unstable (hallucinating) because of her deteriorated condition. However, Kalee responded that her mind was clear. She understood completely. The hiker was more bewildered than ever and wondered if she thought he was lying. Again, Kalee said she believed that he indeed had water at his campsite. Then why did she refuse to walk a few yards to the water and drink? No answer. It remains a total mystery. It boggles our minds.
Jesus offers the same water, except it is living water. Billions of unbelievers throughout the world must answer the same question. Why did they reject the Lord’s spring of living water when they were so parched and in a distressed condition spiritually, mentally, and physically? Millions of Christians must answer the same question. Why did they partake once or twice at the well and quench their thirst but then neglect to return repeatedly? It is a total mystery. It boggles our minds.
Does someone who refuses to live for God truly trust Him? Does a so-called “Christian” who confesses belief in the death and resurrection of Christ but fails to follow Him actually possess genuine faith?
