Signs Of Belief

Read: Mark 16:9-20

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe. Mark 16:17

IN WORD

Like it or not, the Kingdom is a realm of signs. It’s not quite as invisible as we’ve made it out to be. Yes, sometimes it’s hidden. But it’s never completely absent. Instead of developing theology that apologizes for signs, we need to embrace them. The Kingdom is accompanied by evidence of the Kingdom. That’s what Jesus said.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that if a sick person doesn’t get well, then we’re living in unbelief. Or that if someone dies by snakebite, then Jesus’ promise isn’t true. Or that any ongoing presence of the demonic means we’re powerless to cast it out because of our sin. The Kingdom is much more textured than that. We don’t claim that He always heals or delivers, just that He often does. We have to be comfortable with some degree of mystery.

But we do need to choose our perspective. Some people assume an absence of signs and then have to explain miracles as exceptions. Faith assumes a presence of signs and treats an absence of miracles as the exception. If we don’t see Scripture fulfilled in our lives, it’s better to press in to God for wisdom and revelation than to come up with theological caveats about why that verse no longer applies. A discrepancy between Scripture and experience is an invitation to draw closer to God, not a theological problem to explain. Whenever the Word presents a deeper, fuller experience, we are welcome to seek it.

IN DEED

If any promises of Scripture are unfulfilled in your life, don’t explain them away. Go after them with all your heart. Ask God to show you more of Himself in your search. Let Him be your teacher. He loves the kind of faith that cannot rest until all the treasures of His Word become practical reality. Whatever He promised remains an open invitation.

ADDITIONAL READING: John 14:12

We must reach the point of preferring to die rather than to have a ministry without fruit and without power.

FERNANDO VANGIONI