Part 9 (1/2)

Twelve people, all going to see the same thing. But G.o.d wants to see how how they will see it. they will see it.

”See what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many. How is the land in which they live, is it good or bad? And how are the cities in which they live, are they like open camps or with fortifications? How is the land, is it fat or lean? Are there trees in it or not? Make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes. (verses 1820) ”See what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many. How is the land in which they live, is it good or bad? And how are the cities in which they live, are they like open camps or with fortifications? How is the land, is it fat or lean? Are there trees in it or not? Make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes. (verses 1820) What happened to the spies? They saw a lot: strong cities, powerful armies, and impressive giants. The also saw evidence of abundance. But how how did they see it all? Did they see it through the eyes of faith? Did they rely on the confidence that G.o.d had built into their lives? Or did they see it through the eyes of doubt? Forty years later, when Moses reviewed these events in Deuteronomy 1, he pointed out what G.o.d said: ”' did they see it all? Did they see it through the eyes of faith? Did they rely on the confidence that G.o.d had built into their lives? Or did they see it through the eyes of doubt? Forty years later, when Moses reviewed these events in Deuteronomy 1, he pointed out what G.o.d said: ”' Then I said to you, ”Do not be shocked nor fear them Then I said to you, ”Do not be shocked nor fear them [that's the people in the land when you see them]. [that's the people in the land when you see them]. The Lord your G.o.d who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your G.o.d carried you, just as a man carries his son”'” The Lord your G.o.d who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your G.o.d carried you, just as a man carries his son”'” (verses 2931). How does a man carry his son? If your son were to fall and be hurt or to break his leg or to be deeply injured, how do you pick up your son and carry him? With great tenderness, love, and attention. Yet how did the spies respond? (verses 2931). How does a man carry his son? If your son were to fall and be hurt or to break his leg or to be deeply injured, how do you pick up your son and carry him? With great tenderness, love, and attention. Yet how did the spies respond? ”But for all this, you did not trust the Lord your G.o.d” ”But for all this, you did not trust the Lord your G.o.d” (verse 32). (verse 32).

So the things the spies saw would either shrink their faith or stretch their faith. I wonder, can you identify what might be going on in your life that's shrinking or stretching your faith? G.o.d places those regular tests in front of us, doesn't He? Either we get closer to Him and more filled with faith, or we get further away from Him and more filled with doubt.

In 1988, Kathy and I were living at Trinity International University, where I was a seminary student. On February 3 Kathy gave birth to our middle child, Landon. The delivery went on schedule without complications. Landon was born late that night in Highland Park Hospital. After all the excitement, I went home to catch some sleep. When I came back to the hospital the next morning, Kathy was standing there crying, with packed suitcase in her hand. Landon was not there.

”What's wrong?” I asked. She explained that in the middle of the night the medical staff discovered a problem they had missed at delivery. Landon was born with something called a diaphragmatic hernia, which means his diaphragm didn't close together while he was developing. At birth, his intestines were all up in the left side of his chest, and his heart was pushed over on his right side. One of his lungs was only 50 percent developed; the other was hardly formed at all. The doctor told us 88 percent of the babies born with that condition die within the first twenty-four hours. It's a rare and very serious birth challenge.

In the middle of the night, Landon had experienced breathing problems. He started to turn blue. The nurses, thank G.o.d, were paying attention. They rushed him by helicopter to Lutheran General Hospital immediately, where they did emergency surgery. They repositioned his intestines and closed up his diaphragm. But he was still struggling to breathe. There were many procedures ahead.

We rushed to Landon's side. Most of the babies that survive this complication spend three to four months in intensive care. Have you ever been in a newborn intensive care unit? It's a very sad place. I walked down rows and rows of babies in these small gla.s.s trays, lying helplessly under heat lamps. Then I saw Landon.

I saw my son lying there covered with bandages, wires, and tubes.

So much had changed in a few hours! G.o.d places regular tests of faith in front of His children.

I'll never forget the moments after we got in our van outside Lutheran General, just before we went home. I took Kathy's hand and said, ”We need to pray about this.” They had told us before we went to our car that Landon might not live through the night. Of course, we didn't know. I remember praying, ”G.o.d, You are good. We trust You. 'The Lord [gives] and the Lord [takes] away. Blessed be the name of the Lord,'” recalling the words of Job 1:21.

Over the next few days, the doctors performed two additional surgeries. The last procedure required a tube in Landon's side. The doctors were trying to create a vacuum in his chest cavity in order to pull his heart back over a little bit in the right direction. They were planning more surgery.

Of course, I was right in the middle of everything and trying to figure out what was going on. I watched a ”Dr. Jay” put Landon's X ray up on the screen; he looked at it intently. After a moment, he pulled it down, and checked the name. He then put it back up on the screen again. He turned to his intern and asked, ”What is wrong with this baby?”

The intern looked and looked and said, ”I don't know.”

”Right! Nothing!” the doctor replied. Why he seemed aggravated I am not sure, but he slammed the light off with his fist, turned on his heel, and walked out. I knew he had seen us praying over Landon and committing him to the Lord.

The Lord had miraculously healed Landon. Even I could see on the X ray that his two tiny lungs were filled with air, and everything was back in place. I thought of all the wonderful people from the Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church, where I was on staff, who had been praying along with people all over the country.

The Lord just flat out healed him! No doubt about it.

Of course, he's all boy now and thirteen years old, full of energy and vitality for the Lord. I know very well that the medical crisis could have gone in a lot of different directions. The stretching of our faith could have gone a different way. I could tell you other stories about when I trusted G.o.d just as much, but things didn't turn out the way I thought they should. All that to say this: G.o.d places regular tests of faith in front of us.

In those critical moments, you make a crucial choice: Either you let your faith grow and flourish, or you choose doubt. Choose the first, and you'll add another story to your file of the faithfulness and the goodness of G.o.d; choose the second, and your faith will shrivel up like a piece of leather in the wilderness sun. The circ.u.mstances of life either shrink or stretch your faith. Either you get better or you get bitter. The choice is yours. Think about the hardest thing that's going on in your life right now. Ask yourself the question, ”Is this circ.u.mstance shrinking or stretching my faith?”

PRINCIPLE THREE: DOUBT SEES THE OBSTACLES; FAITH SEES THE OPPORTUNITIES.

Two people can look at the same situation and see the exact opposite. One heart filled with doubt focuses only on the obstacles. Another person, looking at the same situation, not filled with doubt but filled with faith, can only see the opportunity. Notice Numbers 13:2526. The spies came back. ”When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days ”When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days [that must have been quite a wait], [that must have been quite a wait], they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel.” they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel.” Imagine the antic.i.p.ation as the people saw the spies approaching. They must have been so fired up-at least, the people who were filled with faith. They were like, ”It's time to move!” Imagine the antic.i.p.ation as the people saw the spies approaching. They must have been so fired up-at least, the people who were filled with faith. They were like, ”It's time to move!”

Unfortunately, everybody wasn't quite seeing it that way-not even the spies! The twelve ”brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. Thus they told him, and said, 'We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit'” ”brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. Thus they told him, and said, 'We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit'” (verses 2627). (verses 2627).

But then the majority spokesperson opened up his mouth and said this awful word, ”Nevertheless” (verse 28). The word literally means except that. except that. In other words, ”We went into the land. It certainly does flow with milk and honey. Look at the size of these grapes. Nevertheless . . .” In other words, ”We went into the land. It certainly does flow with milk and honey. Look at the size of these grapes. Nevertheless . . .”

And then, the picture suddenly changed. Their report got really negative. Doubt sees the obstacles; faith sees the opportunities. Notice verse 28. ”'Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.'” ”'Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.'” Agh! I guess that was a scary thing to them. Agh! I guess that was a scary thing to them. ”'Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hitt.i.tes and the Jebusites and the Amorites ”'Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hitt.i.tes and the Jebusites and the Amorites [and probably the termites, too] [and probably the termites, too] are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan'” are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan'” (verse 29). (verse 29).

The bottom line is that they listed all of these armies with reputations. But the problem never was the giants or the cities or the weapons; the problem was their att.i.tude: They had a lack of confidence that G.o.d would keep His promises.

But not everyone lacked confidence in G.o.d. Notice in verse 30, ”Then Caleb ”Then Caleb [and Joshua, the two men filled with faith] [and Joshua, the two men filled with faith] quieted the people.” quieted the people.” Why did he have to quiet the people down? They were Why did he have to quiet the people down? They were murmuring. murmuring. They were freaking out; they were saying, ”What on earth!” So Caleb had to calm the people. They were freaking out; they were saying, ”What on earth!” So Caleb had to calm the people. ”Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 'We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it.'” ”Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 'We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it.'” Wow! Great faith! Then there was this doubting response: Wow! Great faith! Then there was this doubting response: ”But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.'” Fait ”But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.'” Fait h sees the opportunity; doubt sees the obstacles. What you see is what you get! h sees the opportunity; doubt sees the obstacles. What you see is what you get!

I like this poem because it helps me think about the difference between faith and doubt. 1 1 Doubt sees the obstacles. Doubt sees the obstacles.

Faith sees the way.

Doubt sees the darkest night.

Faith sees the way.

Doubt dreads to take a step.

Faith soars on high.

Doubt questions, ”Who believes?”

Faith answers, ”I.”

GOSPEL BANNER.

It's just as simple as that.

”No, no,” I hear people say. ”It can't be that simple.”

Yes, it is. It's a choice of att.i.tudes. Doubt sees the obstacles; faith sees the opportunities. Doubt and faith are patterns of thinking formed over a long period of time.

Now doubt has many disguises. It doesn't always come out like a doubt thing; it operates undercover. You have to pull back the disguise to see that the real problem is doubt. So, what does doubt use for a disguise? Here are five (but there are more): -- Fear Fear. ”G.o.d won't protect me.” Do you remember what doubt is? Doubt is a lack of confidence or a.s.surance that G.o.d will keep His promises. So one of the disguises of doubt is fear.

-- Anxiety Anxiety. ”Oh! What's up ahead? What's going to happen to me? Will I be OK?” That anxiety is doubt-that's what it is.

-- Frustration and anger. Frustration and anger.”G.o.d won't solve this problem on my agenda in my time!” Right . . . You're doubting G.o.d.

-- Withdrawal Withdrawal. That's pulling back from others or putting up a wall. Not willing to draw close to the Lord. Pulling back spiritually. Why? A growing att.i.tude of doubt.

-- Bitterness Bitterness. ”G.o.d won't heal this hurt in me.” You're so bitter and unforgiving. You're doubting the goodness of G.o.d. You've taken that on yourself, and you're keeping your heart all stirred up about it because you don't believe that G.o.d can really heal that thing that was done to you. But He can. And He wants to. Just let Him.

Did you know...

Thomas Gets a b.u.m Rap!

”G.o.d won't answer my questions.” Yes, He will. Just check in with Thomas (John 11:16; 14:5; 20:2429). He's called a doubter, but a little unfairly. Sure, he had doubts and questions, but his heart was willing to believe. G.o.d will go a long way in revealing Himself to a person who honestly wants answers. Do you really want answers? G.o.d has made some promises. Would you agree? And if we have confidence in G.o.d, we're going to have Promised Land living. But if we're filled with doubt, we're going to live in the wilderness. In fact, those who choose doubting as their lifestyle will spend their lifetimes in the wilderness. those who choose doubting as their lifestyle will spend their lifetimes in the wilderness. G.o.d was getting ready to send a whole bunch of them into the wilderness back in Numbers, partly because of the doubt that they expressed by murmuring. G.o.d was getting ready to send a whole bunch of them into the wilderness back in Numbers, partly because of the doubt that they expressed by murmuring.

”Fine,” you say. ”You nailed it-I have a lot of doubts. Fine, you blew their cover as fear, anger, and stuff. But But if you were in my situation-if you could come this week and be with me where I live . . .” if you were in my situation-if you could come this week and be with me where I live . . .”

Don't Miss This . . .

Those who study human experience agree that life is really not about the difference between our circ.u.mstances. The details may vary, but we all live with highs and lows. Advice columnist Ann Landers gets this when she says, ”Opportunities are often disguised as hard work. Most people fail to recognize them.” Those who study human experience agree almost universally that life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you choose to respond. Seminary president and author Charles Swindoll, one of the most gifted Bible teachers in our generation, wrote: Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our att.i.tude....I believe the single most important decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my att.i.tude choice. It's more important than my past. It's more important than my education or my bankroll or my success or my failures. My att.i.tude choice is more important than my fame or my pain or what others think or say about me or my position or my circ.u.mstances. Att.i.tudes keep me going or cripple my progress. Att.i.tude alone fuels my fire or a.s.saults my hope. When my att.i.tude is right, there is no barrier too high nor valley too deep nor dream too extreme nor challenge too great for me. Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our att.i.tude....I believe the single most important decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my att.i.tude choice. It's more important than my past. It's more important than my education or my bankroll or my success or my failures. My att.i.tude choice is more important than my fame or my pain or what others think or say about me or my position or my circ.u.mstances. Att.i.tudes keep me going or cripple my progress. Att.i.tude alone fuels my fire or a.s.saults my hope. When my att.i.tude is right, there is no barrier too high nor valley too deep nor dream too extreme nor challenge too great for me. 2 2 Now that's not some possibility, positive-thinking nonsense message. That's the message of genuine biblical att.i.tudes. You may say, ”But I don't want to doubt. I know I'm a doubter. But why do I doubt?” Consider principle four: PRINCIPLE FOUR: WHEN SURROUNDED BY DOUBTERS , DOUBTING COMES EASILY.