You Complain That You Cannot Believe?

I was talking with a disgruntled youngster this week after one of his friends shared their testimony and the Gospel with him. He refused to accept it because of the usual arguments: religion is a crutch, how can you be so sure, etc.

However, after speaking with him, he admitted that the real reason why he didn’t want to accept the Gospel was because he wasn’t ready to leave the worldly life he’s been living. Many times, the reason we have such a hard time believing is because we don't want to accept God's commands to forsake a certain sin in our lives.

This reminded me of something I read from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I believe it applies to believers and unbelievers alike. He said:

You complain that you cannot believe? No one should be surprised that they cannot come to believe so long as, in deliberate disobedience, they flee or reject some aspect of Jesus’ commandment. You do not want to subject some sinful passion, an enmity, a hope, your life plan, or your reason to Jesus’ commandment? Do not be surprised that you do not receive the Holy Spirit, that you cannot pray, that your prayer for faith remains empty! Instead, go and be reconciled with your sister or brother; let go of the sin which keeps you captive; and you will be able to believe again! If you reject God’s commanding word, you will not receive God’s gracious word. How would you expect to find community while you intentionally withdraw from it at some point? The disobedient cannot believe; only the obedient believe.

Even with all the doubts this young one had, he still knew the responsibility of being a believer of Jesus Christ. He knew that surrendering your life to the Master meant you had to live in obedience to Him. He knew that he had to undergo the Lord’s discipline. He knew that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). He knew the cost of being a believer and he didn’t want to be another person who fakes it till they make it. He knew if he’s going to give his life to God, he’s wants to go all in. He wants that fruitful faith.

So, even though he did not accept Jesus as his loving Lord and Savior that night, I was comforted to know that God is not finished with him. There will come a day when he’ll realize there’s nothing more satisfying than being in the hands of a good and loving Master who probably isn’t the God he originally envisioned.  

Though he only had a partial understanding of what being a believer costs, it challenged my own walk with the Lord.  And I was glad that God used him to spark that desire to get back into the Word.