What I Can't Explain Away

A young, committed, and educated Jew has just witnessed and approved of the stoning of a member of the followers of a new religion, a blasphemous religion that claims that a man, Jesus of Nazareth, who was executed on a Roman cross is actually the Son of God. He has heard of more of these errant believers in Damascus, and, doing his duty to God, is off to that city to make sure that they and their blasphemy are silenced. Instead though, he is assaulted by an inexplicable light, and he is thrown to the ground. He hears a pleading but commanding voice, saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" It is the voice of Jesus. Blinded, humbled, and shaken, Saul is lead to Damascus, and faces a life of servitude and suffering for the Son of God who loved him and saved him.

I have done nothing but summarized the account of Paul's conversion in Acts 9, and yet similar conversion experiences occur in Muslim countries daily. Muslim men and women, with absolutely no contact with external Christian witness, have dreams and visions of this Jesus of Nazareth, claiming to them personally that he is the true Son of God, and the one they should put their faith in for eternal life. Like Paul, these people have absolutely no worldly gain for believing in Jesus. They will gain no political power, no popularity. They will likely find it difficult to find fellow believers or a church that doesn't have to meet in secret. They face death at the hands of their government, and sometimes at the hands of their family for daring to have a personal relationship with Jesus. And yet they don't turn back. They don't give up. And this isn't just one or two people; statistics show that hundreds of thousands of Muslims in the Middle East are having these experiences. (Joel 2:28-32)

I can't explain that away.

Christians in the New Testament, similarly, had no worldly gain. For the first few hundred years, the Church was frought with persecution. Christians were burned at the stake and used to light Nero's garden parties. They were thrown into gladiator rings and torn apart by lions. But the likelihood of inevitable death did not stop them from worshiping the Christ who rescued them from their sins and bought them Paradise with His death on the cross. Christians are persecuted more today, however, than they ever have been in history. In many countries around the world, Christians don't just face ridicule and disrespect--they face poverty, disease, imprisonment, torture, and death, simply for their faith. (Hebrews 11) But they don't give it up. I can't explain that away.

Throughout history, contrary to all logic and intellect, God has chosen to reveal himself to the poorest, most uneducated of the world  (1 Corinthians 1:20-25). God is not a salesman. He does not cater to human wisdom or logic. He is not always palatable, or warm, or inviting to people who are only looking for a Great Vending Machine in the Sky. A God whose entire teaching throughout the Bible is that He is completely holy and we are completely dust is not soothing to our selfish, self-esteem, self-realization culture. Therefore, He is not a God we would make up. Look at all the other religions of the world, the "rub the Buddha belly," "offer a sacrifice to the idol" religions. They elevate humans and demean the divine. They make us feel good because WE did something to earn our way to heaven, or enlightenment, or whatever. But God saw our pitiful state and made a way for us, a way not based on what we can do, but on what He does for us. Former President Kennedy famously said, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." I propose that God reverses the spirit of that statement. "Ask not what you can do for God. Ask what God can do for you." What rest! "How refreshing to know He doesn't need us! How amazing to find that He wants us!" (Casting Crowns, In Me, lyrics slightly changed for grammar). And I pray your first request is for the perfect salvation and righteousness that Jesus offers via His death on a Roman cross.

I just can't explain God away. His witness is too powerful in the people who have given their lives to follow Him. Changed lives are my favorite miracle, and I have seen them on a daily basis.

I love this picture for a thousand reasons. But my favorite...He got off his throne...