I’ve heard many nonbelievers and Christians say, “If Jesus would just come down to earth again, show me miracles, or answer my prayers (the way I want), then I would believe or have more faith.” I praise God and Jesus every day that their love for us is not based on our performance. Their hearts must be sad when people base their faith on IF God and Jesus follow their expectations and demands.
Three big differences exist between being a disciple of Jesus and all other religions:
- Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins so we could choose to live with him forever in a close relationship.
- He dwells in us through the Holy Spirit and helps us.
- Jesus will come back for all his disciples.
All other religions are based on performance without forgiveness or a personal relationship.
How Do Believers Get Confused About Jesus?
Many believers and nonbelievers get confused for the following reasons:
We Don’t Know Who Made Us: We are not born knowing God’s word and truth. If we are not taught God’s truth about him knitting us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139) growing up, we do not understand that God made us. If we go through life not attending church, how could we know anything different except what the world teaches us?
Even if you attend church but don’t learn to study God’s word and develop a close relationship with him daily, you won’t grasp that you are handmade by God. Without fully understanding God’s love that created you, you may not know or discount his exceptional love for you.
Unawareness Veils God’s Truth and Gives the Enemy Opportunity: If we are unaware of God’s word and truth, we will operate from our imperfect definitions and understanding of God according to the messages we have heard, our role models, and our experiences with other people claiming to be Christians or spiritual. If you have lived in lies and darkness, but no one brings you a light or shows you how to walk in the light of Jesus, how can your life be different?
Therefore, if you are a disciple of Christ, you must study God’s word to know his truth so you can walk in his ways. You must know what lies you believe and how the enemy is infiltrating your mind because the devil knows. God’s truth shows you that you can choose something different in your life instead of living in lies and darkness.
Pride Places Us as Our Own God, and We Think Faith is Controlling God: Man’s imperfect knowledge and understanding of God’s ways will falter. People look to logic, reason, and science to be their own gods. Yet, we can’t create the breath of life God gives each one of us at birth. God’s word, written centuries ago, reveals our truths today.
While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle — and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself — both Jews and Greeks — Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so cheap, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can’t begin to compete with God’s “weakness.” (1 Cor. 1:22-25, MSG)
Miracles: If you expect miracles so God can prove himself over trusting the faithfulness recorded by God and Jesus in God’s Word, then you view him as a genie. God doesn’t have to prove anything to his creation. Yet, he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. (John 3:16) How can anyone expect or demand anything else from our loving Father, Creator God, and our Savior, Jesus Christ?
Jesus preached for three years and performed thousands of miracles. However, here is what John, who witnessed many miracles, records in God’s word.
Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
(John 12:37, ESV)
God came to earth dwelling in Jesus to personally connect with our hearts and souls. They desire to spend their lives with us now on earth and throughout eternity. However, this can only happen through our salvation which is a gift of their loving grace, not from our demand or entitlement.
Yahweh, Our Loving Father and Creator is Not at Our Command
Following God and Jesus is not an a la carte spiritual journey. Being Christ’s disciple is a life-long pledge to follow and work with him in complete obedience, no matter how hard it is or the cost. You pledge your life to serve and worship God with the respect our Creator is due. You are not in charge or control. God gives us a picture of his power in the following passage in Job 38:1-21, MSG:
Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
“Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness? As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors. The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
“Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!
“Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?
But of course, you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
Job 38:1-21, MSG
Who do we think we are that we could order Yahweh, our loving Father and God, around? This is the picture of a gnat ordering the sun to be still. Yet, we have adopted the view or belief that we can disrespect and treat God and Jesus as genies and still live in their fullness, miracles, and blessings WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.
The Bible is full of God’s patience and faithfulness, even though his people continually disrespect, deny, and walk away from him. However, we all have one big meeting with God; we will be judged if we treat him as a genie. God is THE ONLY GOD, YAHWEH!
If you struggle to see God or Jesus as genies, find a small church that teaches you who God is from the Bible and who you are in Christ. Test all sermons against God’s word and ask Jesus to help you grow your relationship close so you will know his heart and truth and obey his ways. Jesus is waiting to teach you his truth. Reach out and follow him with all your mind, heart, soul, and life. Finish your race well!
