A Devotion by Joe G
“Hearing and Believing”
John 5:24-25
One of my favorite movie series of all time is the Indiana Jones franchise. Surviving one danger after another, Indiana Jones always saves the day and finds a rare artifact like The Ark of the Covenant.
In the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” he needs to cross a vast chasm to recover the Holy Grail, the cup of Christ from the Last Supper, to heal his Father, who had been shot,
“Impossible,” he mutters to himself. “Nobody can jump this.”
He recalls the cryptic instructions his Father gave him for passing this obstacle: Only with a leap from the lion’s head (which is carved near the brink where he stands) can he prove his worth.
Indiana gazes uncertainly at the gap between himself and the far end of the chasm. Outside of the temple, his wounded Father gasps with what may well be his dying breath, “You must believe, boy. You must believe.”
Indy can shy away from the challenge, but that will cost him dearly. Only with the Grail’s power can he save his Father, and only by taking a literal leap of Faith can he advance.
. . Indy alights on a hidden bridge, perfectly sculpted and fashioned to blend in with the rock of the chasm.“
https://www.ryankunz.com/blog/2018/4/27/a-leap-from-the-lions-head
Yes! Indiana Jones saves the day. He crosses the bridge, retrieves the Cup of Christ, and saves his Father.
A fictional character named Indiana Jones needed to have Faith to save his wounded Father. Interestingly enough, we, too, need to have Faith, so we can be saved.
**********************The Point********************
In the Gospel of John chapter 5, Jesus says:
“Very truly, I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly, I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
John 5:24-25
It’s almost too simple to say, yet so often difficult to do. Jesus is telling us that His words are God’s words. If we believe that God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, and listen to and believe in Him and what He says, we are saved.
And when Jesus says,
“Very truly, I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live,”
Jesus is reiterating His point from verse 4. We are spiritually dead until we listen to His words and believe.
Perhaps that’s a bit wordy for you. So, let me say it with 4 letters and 4 words I learned from my friend Bob Lenz.
B.G.T.F.
By Grace Through Faith. That’s it! Four letters and four words. We are saved by God’s Grace. Here’s how the Oxford dictionary describes Christian Grace:
“The free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.”
That is not too bad a definition. God gives us His undeserved love not because of what we do but because of what He (Jesus) did. I know this next question is a bit redundant, but what did Jesus do?
He came to earth, born of a virgin mother. He lived a perfect life here on earth for about 33 years. During that time, He taught the word of God, healed countless people, admonished sinners, and helped all who asked for it. Then, finally, He was arrested, tortured, and died on the cross for our sins.
Right there. That’s what we need to have Faith in. God loves us unconditionally because, His Son, Jesus, completed His mission. He was sent to earth to die for our sins. By Grace, Through Faith. God’s Grace and our Faith in what Jesus did for humanity.
Indiana Jones took a leap of Faith to save His Father.
God the Father sent His Son to us to teach, guide, heal and sacrifice Himself for us. All we need to do is have Faith and believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.
Should we change our lifestyle and try and emulate Jesus? Yes! Should we share the story of what God and His Son did for us? Yes!
Always remember: By Grace, Through Faith, we are saved. Amen.
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