“And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God.’” Mark 11:22 (ESV)
The reality is, God never rebuked anyone for having too much faith. No, those with little faith are the ones He rebuked (Matthew 8:26). Nor are we ever told to be concerned about lifting God too high or being too passionate for Him. We are to lift Him high, and then higher still. As far as I know, God has never corrected anyone for thinking too much of Him. We are to believe in a big, awesome God, who can do and does great and impossible things. All things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37). All things, means ALL THINGS, not just some, or a limited amount of things! That means nothing is impossible for Him, or for us who believe in Him (Mark 9:23).
One’s eschatology, that is one’s understanding of end times, is never to limit what God can do today! Any theology that limits God is deficient. He has not stopped being who He is, or doing what He does! Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He desires us to live by faith, walk by faith and if necessary, die by faith. Jesus’ question in Luke 18 is especially piercing for us today… when He returns will He find faith on earth (v.8)? Jesus was astonished by the faith of the woman who declared even dogs wait for the crumbs of the master’s table (Matthew 15:21-28). But He was also shocked by the lack of faith of His own people (Mark 6:1-6)! Don’t be one who has a small God! Our God is not small at all! He is the One that by His very whisper created and sustains life.
We are reminded in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God, but by faith those who diligently seek Him will be rewarded! We are told that the only things that count are the things done in faith (Galatians 5:6). And though love tops everything, faith and hope are close contenders (1 Corinthians 13:13).
If you have allowed anything to limit God, including your view of the end times, repent! Ask Him to strengthen, enlarge and increase your faith, today. Ask Him to tear away every lie that you have believed about Him, and replace them with truth and faith reflecting who He really is, the same, yesterday, today and forever! Ask God to increase the faith of your pastor and church leadership, especially if they have limited what God can do today through their theology! Pray that Athens would be a place where God is astonished by our faith and not shocked by our lack of it! Thank Him for being the God who does the impossible still today!!!
