“Leap” of Faith

“While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.’” Luke 11: 29

I would wager that most of us have at one time or another asked God for a sign. Or at least we hoped for one even if we didn’t outright ask Him. Does this mean we are evil? I think we need to understand the difference between asking for a sign out of humility and a deep desire to only do God’s will and asking for a sign out of pride and doubt where we are only willing to believe in God or follow God IF He gives us the sign first.

I have encounter many people that are sincerely not sure God exists, but they WANT to believe. These people humbly call out in the darkness of their hearts and minds, yearning for hope and something real to base their lives on. They are seeking the Lord but do not know Him yet. In time, some sooner and some later, all of them found Christ. Their hearts were innocent and God revealed Himself to them over time, subtly, so as not to scare them away. But once they came to have that gift of Faith, nothing could hold them back.

On the other hand, I have encountered some people who are angry, resentful or filled with a knowledge based in pride that there is no God. And they are not sincerely seeking Him—at least not consciously. They do not ask God to reveal Himself, they CHALLENGE God to reveal Himself, assuming He won’t, because He can’t, because He isn’t. The sign they look for is a burden of proof, beyond ANY doubt, that God is real. They do not ask for Faith. They ask for proof and rarely do they come by it.

That is the real difference, one person asks for Faith, while another asks for proof. A person of Faith does not need a “sign” because we are going to follow the Lord whether we receive a sign or consolation, or not. Faith does not need a sign. Sure, they’re nice when we do get them, but we don’t need them to believe.

The greatest sign that anyone could ever need has already been given to us: Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Who took on our lowly, human form and spread out His arms and died for us, so that we may live forever. We do not need any other signs to show us the love that God has for us. Jesus is not promising to lay down His life for us, He already has. And for 2,000 years, men, women, and children have believed in a God of such love. Once this unconditional love is accepted into our hearts and minds, no other sign is needed. Apostles preached this Sign, virgins sacrificed for this Sign, martyrs died for this Sign. And without seeing, we are blessed for believing in this Sign—the Person of Jesus. Let us take a “leap” of Faith today and ask for the gift of Faith—or a deeper Faith—so that we in turn, may become visible signs of Christ’s love to those who still seek Him and to all Whom He loves.

Dear Jesus, I ask You to grant me deeper Faith today. And please bless all those who do not believe in You with the absolute gift of Faith in Your love for them. Amen.