“IF YOU BELIEVED YOU WOULD SEE… ” Christadelphian thoughts based on the daily readings for 18th April 2016
Today we started reading Deuteronomy, the last book of Moses. He addressed it to those who would enter the promised land after all their wandering in the wilderness, most of them would have been born there! Of those sent originally to spy out the land only Caleb and Joshua “would see” the land – only they had “believed” and had faith in “the power of God” to bring his promise into reality. (see Mark 12 v.24)
In the 28th chapter of Proverbs – 3 verses in particular captured our attention as they complement, to some degree, our other readings. “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered…”
[v.18]
“A faithful man will abound with blessings …”
[v.20]
“…he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
[v.26]
This wisdom is, of course – as James writes, “from above” and begins, as its foundation by being “first pure …”[3 v.17]
Then we came to that most heart moving chapter 11 in John. We should try to let our minds fully imagine the emotion of the scene outside the tomb of Lazarus. The emotion was such that even “Jesus wept.”
[v.35]
He tells them to take away the stone from the tomb – it is obvious they have no thought conception, at all, of what is about to happen! An anxious Martha exclaims, ” “Lord, by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days.”
[v.39]
This causes Jesus to respond, “”Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
[v.40]
We meditate on what it is to “see the glory of God.”! The wonders of creation, the incredible way, as Paul told the Roman that “all things work together” [8 v.28] in much more than in creation. This ‘working’ is for the “good” of “his purpose” – as Paul had learnt – and was still learning. Are we still learning?
The “glory of God” was seen, not only in creation, but in events in the lives of those who love God. Lazarus came forth alive “to the glory of God” – after being dead for 4 days.
Can we hear Jesus saying to us now! “If you believe” you will “see the glory of God“? Recall what we read in John 5 v.28 – that “an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice” We have to “know” his voice – in order to be able to “hear” it! More than this – look at what John 6 v.40 records Jesus as saying, ” For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Let us “look” with our hearts and minds “on the Son” – and then “on the last day” – and how soon is that day now – we will “see the glory of God” manifested in all its wonder and fullness – because we have really “believed” and trusted in God’s word – and then we will also enter the most wonderful “promised land” – for Eden will be restored!.
By Bro D.Caudery
