Fall in Oklahoma
Jesus replied, “Truly, I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to this fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
New International Version, Matthew 21:21-22
” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
New International Version, Mark 9:23-24
When I read these scriptures, it makes me want to believe more. I want to become better at believing so that I too can receive the miracles for which I am believing and praying. I interpret the challenge and encouragement from Jesus as a call to be a better Christian. I long to grow from one level of glory to another so that, eventually, I can move mountains, open blind eyes and set captives free.
In following Jesus for many years now, I have come to believe that this pursuit, if not careful, can become one of self-actualization and therefore, a dead end street. Self perfection is not the Good News of the Kingdom of God. I am sure Jesus did not intend His words to be misinterpreted this way. His words are always powerful, and challenging. They mark us. They call us to our better selves, our true selves. Yet, we can misunderstand them, just as His disciples did. The best way to clear up that misunderstanding is to hang around Him for a while.
As I have hung around Jesus, I have grown in gratitude and recognition that the Christian life is not about performance. Jesus encourages all to come and reinforces the idea, time and again, that there is no one righteous, and all are welcome at His table. Religion institutionalizes performance and the following of rules. For the Christian, the key is Jesus; simply hanging around and continuing to follow Him.
He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). He heals, delivers and works miracles. As we pray, cling and remain near Him, due to proximity alone, mountains will move and healing will occur. Transformation happens in His presence. Though we remain imperfect sinners, broken like all humanity, nearness to Jesus changes everything. His presence and His Spirit are the difference. His grace covers all faults, failures and shortcomings. Anything good in me is because of Him. All glory belongs to Him and is due to Him.
Maybe you have misinterpreted this challenge as I have, this “if you have faith?” May I suggest that the most important thing about our faith is not our growth therein or how firm our convictions, but instead, it’s the object of our faith and in whom we believe. After all, Jesus said that with just a tiny drop of faith, we could move mountains and nothing would be impossible for us (Matthew 17:20).