Sometimes, as believers who boldly stand for their faith, we can come to see ourselves as John the Baptist, stuck in the movie Groundhog Day, where life seems to be a constant circle of feeling the same defeat and asking the same questions. John the Baptist emerged from the wilderness and became the most successful evangelist than anyone had seen for centuries. His role, to prepare the Jewish people for, and to introduce them to, the Messiah. Thousands came to hear him speak and accepted his words. He was on top of his game, at the peak of his career, and I’m certain he felt really good about it. That is reflective of me when I tell someone about Jesus and teach His gospel. When another believer, or a backslider, or someone on the fence, responds to the message in a positive way, it just feels good.
Then John’s time of preaching the Good News was over and he obediently passed the torch to Jesus Christ. At this point he was led to preach the darkness of the sin in our hearts; because eventually everyone who comes to Jesus is going to have to consider the condition of their heart, and allow the Holy Spirit to change that heart, or not. This is where things get bad, for John, and for me. Teaching about sin is hard, because most of us just don’t want to hear it.
John told Herod, the ruler of the day, that his relationship with his sister-in-law was not right in the eyes of God. Now his audience was no longer supportive, nobody was happy with his message, and he was thrown into a prison cell. A cell where he was alone with his thoughts and his doubts, wondering if what he did was the right thing to do, if it made any difference at all. I can tell you what he was thinking because I’m thinking it now. I happen to have returned to that cell today. He’s thinking, “Lord, did I do the right thing? Did I speak too boldly in Your name, for Your truth? Should I have done it differently, with a more cautious approach? Did I act out of love? I’m sorry, Lord, if I made a mistake.” This is what doubt looks like, and the questions I often ask myself when I step out and speak Biblical truth.
Believers and non-believers alike are hurt by my words, and in doubt I wonder, “Did I just embolden the darkness in our world, drive people farther from the light, with what I said? Did the light I wanted to shine make any difference? Am I doing the will of God?” It is hard to say, isn’t it? Often all we have is faith, whatever faith we have left in us during these dark times, to tell us that we have obediently served our Lord.
Ultimately, John the Baptist ended up in glory, at the throne of God, even though he would never leave that prison with breath in his lungs. As for me, I will get out of this cell by talking to God in prayer, by leaning on the Holy Spirit for renewal, and by searching His words that will guide me in the Bible. Then, unlike John, I will see the sunshine on my face again and I’ll serve God with a happy heart, until sin prompts me to action again. Then I will return to this cell for another stay, and the door will be slammed shut, where I will survive yet another death of John the Baptist.
Matthew 11:4-6
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
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