Dare to Believe in the Impossible

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

As we progress into the last days, we shouldn’t be surprised as the state of the church. The spiritual indifference we feel was first described in Revelation 3:15-16, when God said of the 7^th church (Laodicea, also prophesized as the final church):

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” 

God gives a strong warning for a dark time. Why? Because of the hot, cold, and lukewarm, the lukewarm are the most spiritual damaging. Yes, they go to church. They read their Bible (maybe) and participate in helping those in need. Yet, they have stopped pursuing a meaningful relationship with God. They dim their own lights, and the lights of those around them. How will you know who they are? You will know them by their fruits (Matthew 19:16).

Here’s a Present-Day Example

Searching for a new job can be challenging. Have you ever needed to find a new job in tough circumstances? Did you want to switch careers or industries? We often seek the advice of others, and that’s not a bad idea but we have to be careful. When we hold onto Jesus’ promise – that with God all things are possible (Matthew 7:26), there will be Christians that will tell you to manage your expectations. They will remind you of the challenges and difficulties under the labels of experience and realism. They may even mock your faith because they think they know better than your far-reaching dreams.

Stay strong. Many lukewarm Christians have misrepresented the character of Christ because they place their faith in themselves. They believe they have need of nothing (Revelation 3:17) and so they do not seek the honest counsel of God. As long as a lukewarm Christian remains lukewarm, they cannot help a hot Christian remain hot; they will only bring your temperature down. Instead, we are admonished to walk in our faith with God, developing a personal relationship that spans beyond input from others.

It takes a strong sense of faith to believe that God will deliver. Trusting in God, however, does not blind you to the obstacles. Instead, we see God as the source of infinite possibilities; you will dare to believe in the impossible. Even when situations feel overwhelming and the days grow weary, we must guard ourselves against those who try to lower the temperature of our faith. Let’s look at the story of Moses, for a Biblical example on standing firm in our faith.

Moses at the Red Sea

When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God used Moses to bring them out of slavery and into freedom. As they traveled out of Egypt, they reached a dilemma.  With the Red Sea in front of them, and Pharaoh’s army behind them, they exclaimed to Moses in Exodus 14:11:

Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 

Moses then responded in Exodus 14:13-14:

 Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

That day, God parted the Red Sea. It’s a miracle that has garnered a lot of attention. Who doesn’t like a big miracle? Yet it’s the faith of Moses that is the real moment in this story. In Hebrews 11:27-29 we read:

By faith he [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

The Power in Faith

Moses’ faith was not just about himself. He inspired the faith of the Israelites in their moment of weakness. He was a flame, and he spread that fire to those who so desperately needed it, so that they could experience what they could not believe. Moses didn’t place his faith in the Israelites. If he had, he would’ve lost his connection with God. Instead, he disregarded their complaints and held fast to what he knew to be true.

There will be times when God is speaking to us, and others are trying to block His signal. When we face what feels like insurmountable situations, many people – including lukewarm Christians, will give us advice based on human logic. Why? Because it feels like a safe and respectable choice. Yet our knowledge base and personal experiences are such a small microcosm in the infinite universe of God.

Jeremiah 32:27 states Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? The answer is no. Trust God no matter the noise around you. Light your flame, and God will spread His fire. Let your faith be your witness to others as to the true character of God. Everyone won’t support you on the journey – that’s okay. Let God, and then let go.