In 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul is about to die. He is on death row and knows he is going to be executed. He can see the glint of the executioner’s sword in his mind’s eye. Yet he is more aware of Jesus than the soldier guarding him and the death awaiting him. He writes in 2 Timothy 1:12, “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
In his time of trouble, Paul’s faith is feeding on Jesus Christ. Faith has many things that can nourish it, but if one dimension of spiritual life is pursued to the neglect of others, you will end up as an undernourished believer.
Some people seek to nourish their faith by feeding on reason—the WHY of their faith. Some stumble at the revelation of the Bible because it runs counter to reason. It is not good enough that the Bible teaches about creation, the role of women, or hom*osexuality; they must know WHY the Bible says this before they believe it. If the Bible passes the filter of reason, they will believe it. If not, they will reject it.
If your sister were an astrophysicist, you’d believe her even if she told you something you didn’t understand. Why? You know her, and therefore, you trust her. The greatest thing is not understanding God but knowing God. What happens when you cannot understand the WHY? When you run out of reasons, you still have Jesus. Paul did not say, “I know WHY I have believed,” but WHO. His soul is not resting in a WHY but in a WHO.
Some people seek to nourish their faith by feeding on miracles – the WHAT of their faith. Many say, “If only I were to see a miracle, I’d believe.” But miracles do not guarantee faith. What generation in the Old Testament experienced the most miracles? Moses’ generation. What generation was the most unfaithful? Moses’ generation. Which generation in the New Testament experienced the most miracles? Jesus’ generation. What generation was the most unfaithful? The ones who saw the most miracles. Those who saw the most miracles exercised the greatest unbelief. Miracles may help in giving birth to faith, but they cannot sustain faith.
What happens when you do not see the WHAT? I had grand mal epileptic seizures as a teenager. When I was nineteen, I received prayer and flushed my anti-seizure medication down the toilet. I was seizure-free for thirty-five years before one struck again. What happened to my miracle? What happened to my WHAT? I do not know what happened to my WHAT, but I still have my WHO. The WHAT won’t always be there, but the WHO will.
Some seek to nourish their faith by feeding on emotions – the WOW of their faith.
Many Christians are in search of a good feeling. This validates their faith. Today, if something does not give immediate emotional satisfaction, it won’t compete long for people’s attention and loyalty. For these types, the act of worship is more important than the Object of worship. They are taken up with the mood, tone, and intensity of the songs.
What happens when there is no WOW – no immediate emotional fulfillment? The WOW won’t always be there, but the WHO will. Walking with God is like marriage. The WOW comes and goes, but the WHO remains.
When there is inadequate understanding, no miracles, bland feelings – there is always Jesus. If your faith is dependent upon WHAT/WHY/WOW – you will be a spiritual casualty or a bitter, disappointed pew-sitter. Paul did not always know the WHY, see the WHAT, or feel the WOW – but he always had the WHO of Jesus. Paul was brought successfully through his apostolic labor, not by a WHY/WHAT/WOW, but by a WHO. When you do not know the WHY, see the WHAT, and experience the WOW, will you walk with Jesus? There are rational, miraculous, and emotional aspects of the Christian faith, but our verse underscores the relational. Paul is not banking his eternity on a WHY/WHAT/WOW – but a WHO. You will come to an end of the WHYS/WHATS/WOWS – but you will never come to the end of the WHO – never come to the end of Jesus. Jesus is the Reason of Heaven, the Miracle of God, and the Source of all Joy. Jesus is the WHO, the WHY, the WHAT, and the WOW.
Tim Brown
