Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘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!”
Mark 10:21-24
When we come for help, we go to people that we think can do something for us. It’s pointless to talk with someone that can’t help. We expect them to be able to overcome our problem.
If I want a cup of coffee, I don’t talk to my pharmacist. If I need a tire fixed, I don’t take it to my local Dunkin Donuts. But sometimes in life, when we’re really desperate, we’ll talk with anyone. We’ll reach out to anybody that might have some insight or answer to our particular problem.
When my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. We were fairly new to central Florida. We didn’t have a lot of contacts in the medical profession, or friends for that matter. So, I started reaching out to who I knew, looking for clues, experiences, recommendations.
This father must have collected some information and came to the conclusion that no matter how desperate his situation, that Jesus was someone worthy of looking into. But he’s not totally convinced that Jesus can cure his son.
How many times have we run to God and said these same words, “If you can.” When we say these words to God, it’s a two-sided coin.
Heads – yes, God can do anything. He’s all-powerful and can swoop down from heaven, change my circumstances, defeat my enemies, make everything right. Peaceful. Comfortable.
Tales – no, God can’t or won’t do it. He’s either too weak to change what’s wrong or he won’t do it because he’s not interested in helping me. Or we don’t measure up, we haven’t collected or earned enough points
The father responds to Jesus’ question, describing how long and terrible this condition has been for the boy, for the family. This spirit is so evil that it throws the son into fire and water. The father believes Jesus to be compassionate for his son but wonders if Jesus has the power or authority to do anything.
The father freely admits;
· He has some faith
· But his faith is weak
· His faith needs immediate and ongoing help
His faith doesn’t need a single dose to boost it. He doesn’t need an injection or inoculation of faith. He needs an IV for his faith. Something that is going to constantly nourish and replenish his faith.
The father is not just asking for his son’s condition to be made a little bit better, or for his faith to be improved. He’s looking for that kind of radical, life-altering change that will not just put him in a new direction for a little while but put him on a completely new road for the rest of his life.
The father is so tired of the current situation that he’s not looking for an aspirin, but a transplant. He’s not looking for the walls of his life to get a new coat of paint, he’s anticipating the walls to be knocked down and rebuilt. He’s at the end of his rope and is ready for God to show up and make everything new. And that’s exactly where God wants us to be.
Although God is all powerful, I think he gets tired of us playing around with him. I know that God is patient, but I think there comes a point where he gets fed-up with our treating him like a hobby instead of like God. He wants us to come to the end of the road. The end of ourselves. To the place that we just give up. And this is the time and place where God steps up to the plate and answers.
If you’re in need of a miracle, would you consider the possibility that you are the reason that God has not acted yet? God doesn’t need to warm up, down an energy drink, or pump some iron to get strong enough to answer from above, in power and might. He’s waiting for us to be in the right place and position to receive it.
And that place is when our life has run out of gas. We have no power. We freely admit our weakness and inability to fix whatever is going on in our lives. And that position is down on our knees.
Rick Warren said it best:
You don’t know God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.
Today is the day to be like this father, out of options, out of energy, out of time. David realized this when he wrote;
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalm 51:17 NLT
I can’t teach you how to do this. It’s something you already know how to do, but you have to want to do it. You need to release your rights to God. All I can do is encourage you to do it. And with all of my heart, I’m begging you.
Comments