More than Information: Driving it to the Heart
My sister and I were privileged to grow up with a great aunt in the family. She was a larger-than-life, big-hearted, book-loving person and she had an encyclopaedic memory for all sorts of trivia.
Jinks’ Christmas quizzes were legendary, and obligatory. We would all sit down, attempt to answer the range of obscure questions, and watch her unfolding expression of disbelief at our lack of knowledge.
I find it tempting, when reading the Bible, to gather facts and information as if I’m training for a quiz. I love to know things, a little like Jinks. But this living, active Word is more than informative. The Hebrews writer describes the way it ‘penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart’ (Heb 4:12). This piercing word drives deep down into our very selves, examines our hearts and calls us to respond.
I love the way in which we are invited into Mary and Martha’s grief-stricken home in John 11. Jesus speaks to His friend, and says that He is ‘the resurrection and the life’. A statement of fact. But at the end of the declaration, he asks her ‘do you believe this?’. The information is not sufficient unless Martha’s heart is engaged, and she trusts what Jesus has said. That is where the Word goes to work.
Do I believe this? How does it impact the way I think, feel and live?
The question seeps into the corners of my everyday life. I pause. Jesus is asking Martha to have hope in the face of death. Certain, solid and unchanging hope that shifts our perspective on life now as we look to life eternal.
It means that I can grieve the loss of a loved one with hope. It means that I can answer my kids’ questions about death with certainty. It means that I can give of myself for gospel things, whether it’s time, money or other resources, without hesitation, because Jesus gives life. It means that I don’t need a back up plan in terms of guarding my reputation or ensuring that I’m successful in the eyes of my friends because this certain hope is a game changer.
Jesus is trustworthy, and I can trust Him for all I need - in life and death.
No doubt there are quizzes out there that could be won through gathered bible facts. But this Word goes beyond that knowledgeable triumph, and reaches into our heart. It shores up our faith, gives us reason to believe, enables us to see our need and allows us to rest in the certain, steadfast hope of Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life.
