If You REALLY Believe, Things Would Be Different

There was once a famous high wire artist preparing to accomplish the challenge of a lifetime: To walk across the Grand Canyon on a high wire. The crowd was growing quickly and swelling with excitement as the event was about to commence. Cheers of encouragement filled the air as the man was preparing to mount the wire and begin his treacherous walk to fame, or death.

The high-wire artist picked up his balancing pole, faced the crowd and asked, “Who believes that I can do this?” Hundreds of fervent voices answered, “I do! I do!” There was one particularly enthusiastic onlooker pushed right up against the security ropes on the front row. His excitement seemed to know no bounds. The artist noticed the man and stepped in front of him and asked him, “If you really believe I can do this, do you also believe I can walk across the canyon pushing a wheelbarrow?” “Absolutely!” the fan yelled out. The artist then challenged the man, “Ok, if you really believe this, then get in the wheelbarrow.”

The fan in this story had an unexpected test of his faith. Did his faith have legs?  More importantly does my faith and your faith have legs? Does our faith follow through with proper action when confronted with real life tests? If we are honest, most of us could only answer this question with a “sometimes.”

Recently, I got confronted with some truths that forced me to admit to myself, and now to you, various forms of hypocrisy on my part. There are just too many times when my actions don’t line up with what I say I believe. I certainly mean well but when the rubber hits the road, I fail. Too often, I decline God’s offer to get in the wheelbarrow.

The Lord convicted me of my hypocrisy. The conviction began a couple of weeks ago at my new church in the North Georgia mountains where I now live with my wife, Susan. Our pastor committed the church to watch a series of videos by Focus on the Family called “The Truth Project.[1]” The purpose of the series is to bring every participant to a face-to-face encounter with God. I think it is working.

In the first session, the class professor, Dr. Del Tackett, raised this question: Do you really believe that what you believe is real? I thought I did, but again, if I really did, things would be different. I would be different. Let me explain.

The Bible talks a lot about giving[2] and the tremendous blessings promised to those who give. If we really believed this, we would be climbing over each other fighting our way to the offering plate on Sunday morning. If we really believed it we would be giving God His 10% plus some. In reality, we give Him less than 2%. Do we really believe His Word?

The Bible teaches us to help others especially those who are in need[3]. It even tells us to give without expecting repayment. This is tough stuff. We are told that we are, in reality, not giving to another so much as we are lending to the Lord. Do you think He will pay us back fairly?

In fact, this week, I was tested on this. A friend of twenty plus years asked me to lend him a large sum of money to help him through a tough time.  What will I do?  I’m praying about it. I am committed to doing what the Lord wants. Honestly though, I don’t’ want to[4], but I don’t want to miss God. I want to grow. So, I have to ask myself repeatedly, Do I believe what I believe is real? Will I climb into the wheelbarrow?

I won’t lie. I struggle with giving generously or lending money?  I am not by nature very generous. I was brought up in an alcoholic home where my brother and I heard about the family moving to the “poor house” on a regular basis. I guess I still fear checking in. I like my new home much better.

Here is a real life situation that appears regularly in today’s disintegrating society. Sometimes, even though the right thing to do may seem harsh or too tough to us we have to trust God’s Word. His thoughts are not our thoughts nor are His ways our ways Scripture says.

Read with me, I Corinthians 5:11: But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.  The intent of God’s Word here is restoration not condemnation. There has to be accountability. There has to be consequences for our sinful actions. Can we administer tough love? Can we be obedient when it is so hard and painful to be obedient? Can we suffer the loss of a friend because we do love them enough to do so?[5]

How often have we violated this Scriptural mandate? What is worse is that so many people like you and me, who claim to be Christians, have Christian friends who are living together or sleeping together. What’s up with this?

As a pastor I have almost quit doing weddings because in my experience the majority of the brides and grooms to be are already sleeping or living together. They say they believe the Bible but don’t seem to have a problem with immorality. They don’t get in the wheelbarrow.

Think how different we each would be if we really believed what we believe is real? Going a step further, think about how different the world would be? Society would never be the same again. This is exactly why twelve disciples, just twelve, literally turned the world upside down. They not only believed that what they believed was real. All, but one of them died for it.

I won’t belabor this although I could site many more examples. As for me, I can’t stand much more conviction right now. You get the point and you can take your own walk of conviction, as I am, if you are willing. My prayer for you and for me is that we will always be willing to get in the wheelbarrow.

This is what I think. What about you?

Ralph C. Barker

cruiseone@mindspring.com.

By Ralph C. Barker Click here for bio and archived articles