What do you do when the circumstances you’re going through get you to question what you believe? This happens to the best of us.
When I read in John chapter 1, I thought if there is anyone more convinced about who Jesus Christ is, it is John. He leaves no room for speculations! ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!’ (v.29). He nails his point in verse 34, ‘I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.’
When his disciples complained about the popularity of Jesus he reminded them, ‘you yourselves can testify that I said I am not the Messiah but I am sent ahead of him, He must become greater I must become less’ (Chapter 3:28,30). John is the last person anyone would expect to forget who Jesus is, and who he is in Jesus.
I was in shock when in Matthew 11:3, John sent some of disciples to find out if Jesus was the One or they needed to wait for another… Jesus responded in the best way He knew John would understand. He spoke of fulfilled prophecies John was familiar with, blind eyes opened, the gospel preached…
Before you judge him like I did, what caused him to fall so far? What is the significance of this to us today?
John was being flogged in Herod’s prison, maybe he expected Jesus to visit him in prison, after all he dedicated his life to prepare the way for the Messiah; eating locusts and wild honey, confronting sinners and baptizing them for repentance!
Listen, when John allowed the circumstances to get on the inside, he began to doubt the very one He came to reveal.
Significance?
We should not allow the discouragement on the outside to get on the inside. People are defeated from within before they are defeated on the outside. That’s why I believe Proverbs 4:23 warns us to guard our hearts with all diligence.
There are all sorts of lies and videos circulating the social media instilling fear! I choose not to share anything that won’t build faith. Let nothing come out your mouth except what is building so it may benefit those who hear, each according to their needs.
Your attitude should be one of “even though I walk in the valley of shadow of (covid-19) death, I will fear no evil because You are with me!”
If John who got a revelation of who Jesus is from God could be overwhelmed to the point of doubting Jesus, so can you! Therefore guard your heart! God promised in Isaiah 43, “even though you walk through the fire you won’t be burned, even though you walk through the waters, they will not sweep over you because I have summoned you by name, you are Mine”
The author serves with Watoto Church – Uganda.
