August 18 I Believe

1 Kings 17:19-24 And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he cried to the Lord, "O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?" 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." 22 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives." 24 And the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."

YOU might think, "Anyone who has experienced such a resurrection miracle would surely say as the woman did, 'I know...that the word of the Lord in our mouth is truth.'" The widow in Zarephath had experienced life in God's daily provision of bread. She had then watched her son die. Now she sees her son alive again! How could one not say, "I believe." witnessing such signs as she has seen?

    To answer that question, perhaps we could ask the Pharisees as they responded to Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus in John 11:44. See how John 11:45-53 records the Pharisees' fear was that such resurrection power would cause people to believe in Jesus! In their unbelieving hearts, "they made plans to put him to death." (John 11:53) Or you could ask these same men, "How could you not believe?" in response to the evidence of Jesus' own resurrection? How much evidence do we need?

    I'm reading a book called "The Brief History of Time" by the renowned atheist and physicist Steven Hawkings. It's good to know what nonbelievers believe, especially one of such an extraordinary mind God has given to Mr. Hawkings. Two things are clear to me as I read the book.

    The first thing I see is how changeable scientific "truth" is. Hawkings describes the history of scientific thought regarding the origin, form and function of the universe. Firmly held theories are disproven and become obsolete. New forms of "truth" change as brilliant minds try to decipher what causes the universe to be as it is. How could such minds not say, "'I know...that the word of the Lord in our mouth is truth." as they come to understand how complex and wondrous the universe is?

    The second thing I see in Hawkings' book is the evidence of design in the universe. For example, one of those "scientific truths" that changed is the belief the universe is static - all planets and stars stay in one place. But it is now known that the universe is expanding. Furthermore, the rate of expansion is necessary for its continued existence. A static universe or one expanding at less of a speed than it is would collapse onto itself.  

    God has given extraordinary minds to many through the ages. To some he has revealed his life power. Others such as Hawkings and the learned Pharisees of Jesus' day have seen the signs of God literally rise before them. But they still do not believe.

    In response, we must raise up God's truth as did Elijah. See how his response to the boy's death was to call on the Lord. Only God can bring life. Jesus said this to a truth-seeking Pharisee named Nicodemus: John 3:6 "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."  God's resurrection power needed to come to the widow's son that day. It must come to many more. Regardless of one's intelligence, no one will know God is life until the Spirit acts into their mind. Pray for the Spirit's life to come to those who do not believe.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I pray you will open minds to know the truth of all life. In Jesus' name, amen.