Questioning God without losing faith in Him

Can bad experiences  cause people to question the  goodness and existence of God?

Everyday unseen life struggles:

When John the Baptist asked a somehow strange question.

To understand  the question of John the Baptist , we all need to understand John the Baptist`s life, mission and impact on the community around him. We need to look at his spiritual CV ,not his earthly biography.

Here is a brief  Spiritual CV  of  John the Baptist and how it would read like in our modern day:

• Name: John the Baptist
• Surname: Son of Zacheriah the priest and Elizabeth , a close relative to Mary the mother of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
• Date of birth: Born 6 months before Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born
• Place of birth: Judea
• Educational Qualifications : PHD in Full understanding of The ten commandments of God ,the laws of God and the history of God`s intervention for  my people.
• School attended : Home schooled in the Judaean wilderness
• Home address: The Wilderness of Judea
• Favorite Foods : Honey and locusts
• Religion : Just a spiritual man and firm believer in the creator of heaven and earth. Not an extremist of any earthly religious organization but hoping the Messiah will overthrow the proud and rule over them.
• Work experience:  I have Worked for God , Proclaiming the kingdom of God , baptizing  all who believe and those who accept the message and warnings given by his spirit. I have not claimed to be greater than any men or God .I have reached out to all men ,rich and poor ,great and small. I have not performed any miracles except preaching the true gospel.
• Skills :  I understand people and the effects of sin in their lives. I can reach out to both kings and servants.
• Achievements : I have no earthly achievements like gold and mansions but God had worked through me and many souls have been  saved and thousands have been baptized unto God .
• Hobbies :  I simply appreciate life given unto me .No alcohol  for any occasions , no parties , no sports , no drama , just a life of prayer and mission.
• Message: God`s judgment on the world is imminent : Repent and be baptized for kingdom of God draws near.
• Reference : Ask around , go to the poor ,the sick and also the rich , the kings and slaves ,they can testify if i have lived and worked faithfully. Listen to the words of Jesus when he will talk about me. He is the only good judge of character and knows everyone better than everyone.
•                                                                                                — THE END —

If this is how the spiritual CV of John would look or sound like if ever there was a spiritual CV at all. Do you think this a CV of a man who was doubting Jesus at all or there was something that was happening here ?

What would your spiritual CV look like? Do you think your spiritual CV is equal or better than that of John the Baptist that at  a single threat or loss of your livelihood or family member , you can  start questioning God ? Job also presented his own CV to God when he lost all his children ,wealth and health and God responded to him, accordingly. Read the story of Job for your self and we can discuss about him and what made his situation worse. Was it God or  was it Job`s friends and John`s disciples who added petrol to his troubles and sorrows?

Friends ,it is not your own qualification or power that will make you stand strong before threat , loss or  adversity. Neither is it our own power and mighty that we can achieve anything for God or ourselves but it is through the power of God.  It is written in the bible that God calls the unqualified and qualifies them.

Who exactly was John the Baptist?

John the Baptist was and is still one of the great gospel workers ever to be recorded in the bible. He was not rich ,he owned no mansion and he had no earthly ambition like you and I. John the Baptist was seriously committed to his life purpose and mission. You and I  we are caught in between achieving our earthly goals and accomplishing our spiritual mission ,that is if we even have one spiritual knowledge and mission. We want successful businesses , big houses ,mansions in plush suburbs .Not John the Baptist.

John the Baptist`s birth and mission was prophesied:

Read Luke 1:5-2:20 . In summary It is written  in the  bible  that the angel Gabriel , a messenger of God , announced the birth of John to Zechariah the priest. Zechariah the priest and Elizabeth were obedient to God`s commandments but did not have a child. They prayed for a child and God answered their prayer.  John`s mission was to prepare the way for the kingdom of God. This preparation included preaching repentance from sin followed by baptism . John`s life was a blessing  a pride and joy to his parents and the whole nation of Israel who were called according to God`s purpose. The gospel was not for Israel alone but the whole world. Verse 17 says ,  John the Baptist will go ahead of the Lord(Jesus Christ) with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord.” What a contrast is the life of John to the lives of many of  today`s believers ,preachers ,pastors and leaders. Are you preparing the world for the final and glorious second coming of Jesus Christ or you are a hindrance to salvation of many lost souls?  Many are sinful and too proud yet born out of wedlock , rape , mistakes or convenience. John was a humble and holy man Many are a shame , sorrow and embarrassment to their parents or community yet they claim to be custodians of the gospel ,the good news. Oh how i wish all  believers had humble lives like John the Baptist ,humble yet effective in our mission to save souls. like John the Baptist . Do not worry or despair. There is hope for you and me. The bible says all believers in Jesus Christ are now adapted into the family of God despite their backgrounds of origin.

Where was John when he asked the question in Matthew 11 verse 1-3 and why?

John was in Prison for warning Herod not to marry Herodius who was once married to Philip, Herod`s late brother who had died. Herod knew and believed that John the Baptist was a true prophet of God.It is pnly when his conscience and judgment was clouded by alcohol and excitement on the birthday  of Herodias` daughter that Herod lost his ability to execute proper decisions. Herod did his best to control his lust but Herodius was more cunning.  All men , believer or non believer has the ability to see and understand the truth until they intoxicated with alcoholic wine and fleshly lust.

So why did John ask the question?

John had many disciples , may be ten , fifty or more than one hundred but he took only two disciples and send them to Jesus Christ with a heavy question.

If  indeed John the Baptist was  now starting to doubt Jesus Christ as many people suggest ,what would the rest of the multitude think ,believe and do? After all :

John the Baptist was filled with the Holy spirit ever since he was in his mother`s womb .He had spent his whole life testifying of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. John had testified of Jesus as the lamb of God  that takes away all the sins of the world upon himself.

The disciples of John  were the biggest problem in this whole situation for they always complained against Jesus`s work  and  against the disciples of Jesus Christ. Not only that ,they also complained against Jesus Christ`s rising popularity , increased followers  and questioning why he did not come to see or free John from prison. After all ,Jesus was related to John. These concerns seem to be legit and reasonable is it not so?

Jesus did not answer John directly. Jesus sends back the disciples of John with a message to say , the sick are healed ,the blind now can see…. Do you think this is all John wanted to hear as an answer? Do you think John had a problem with such an answer?John longed to hear a word from Jesus but there is no indication that he was disappointed in Jesus in any way.

John used his own disciples  to carry the question to Jesus so that his own disciples can hear and see Jesus in action , in return ,they will also become witnesses of Jesus work and mission. The interview with Jesus Christ allowed the disciples to have an opportunity to cast away their own doubts and unbelief for John the Baptist ,their leader was already at peace in Jesus Christ.

Like the disciples of John the Baptist we can be messengers between God and men , delivering God`s messages to people but many times we don`t take people`s questions to God. We all have questions for God? Everyone is allowed to pray directly to God in faith for answers. Are our questions questions to seek more knowledge and wisdom  or questions of doubt and grief alone?

John the Baptist was the first believer in Christ to partake in the sufferings because of the gospel. Herodius made sure of that and many suffered and still more will suffer again as the world come to a final end but Jesus Christ promised all his believers that he will be with them to the very end .Many will be throw in prison because of the gospel . Many true believers will even face harsh persecution ,accusations , punishment and even death. All this ill be the work and attacks from Satan through human agencies but this time God will intervene and there will be no total annihilation of God`s people.

John had faith in Jesus Christ and doubted him not. There is no other verse in the bible that indicates or reveals John`s doubts and grievances against Jesus Christ. John`s disciples are the ones who doubted Jesus so the question was for their benefit as they came to Jesus. We all have an opportunity to see and witnessing for ourselves the power of the gospel. It is not our discouraging situations that matters  to God,  but the salvation of many souls in the world. Many think that the bible ,preachers or God down plays the earthly sufferings of human  comparing it to a distant luxurious life in the future. What a sad oversight that mortal men have.

John spent his life testifying about Jesus:

Read Matthew 3:verse 11-12  , John 1: verses 29-34 When John was in prison he was probably singing: Does Jesus Care? The lyrics of this song goes like:

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth and song?
When the burdens press
And the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares (His heart)
His heart is touched with my grief
When the days are weary
The long night dreary
I know my Savior cares

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
And as the daylight fades
Into deep dark shades
Does He care enough to be near?

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares
His heart is touched with my grief
When the days are weary
The long night dreary
I know my Savior cares

Does Jesus care
When I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong?
When for my deep grief there’s no relief
Though the tears flow all the day long

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares
His heart is touched with my grief
When the days are weary
The long night dreary
I know my Savior cares

Does Jesus care when I’ve said, “Goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me
And my sad heart aches
Till it nearly breaks
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares
His heart is touched with my grief
When the days are weary
The long night dreary
I know my Savior cares

I know my Savior cares..

Jesus Christ trusted John the Baptist and knew that earthly prison and death were too little for  John to lose his faith.  Just like John the Baptist , God also knew that Job was faithful even if he losses everything he had. Can God trust that you are able to face the fierce attacks of the devil? The devil failed to prevail against Jesus Christ both in heaven and on earth ,in the Wilderness. By attacking John the Baptist ,Satan through Herodius rejoiced to cause pain to both Jesus and John the Baptist.

Jesus Christ testified of John the Baptist.

Read Matthew 11: verses 7-11

Do you testify of Jesus like how and  what John the Baptist did?

Will Jesus testify of you or will he say he never knew you?

Many who claim to be working for God will be shocked one day when the words of  Jesus Christ in Matthew 7 verses 21-23  will be fulfilled in them. Matthew 7:21-23 says,

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

 

John the Baptist never performed a single miracle neither did he give personal prophesies  to convince people but he preached the kingdom of God and true repentance . How prophets out there can tell you your life problems and who is causing them? Many indeed but is that a sign that they are working for God?  How many people follow popular preachers and prophets  just because they can prophesy? Many indeed but how do you know they are being used by God and not the devil? Follow  and trust Jesus Christ first as your personal Lord and Savior and you will be freed from all the dark  evil powers  , spells and deceptions of the devil. Satan rejoices when preachers and religious leaders are proud and self centered for financial gain , praise and approval from earthly men.   

Will Jesus Christ say to you one day , “I Never Knew You “?

May be you are a powerful preacher , pastor or prophet . Do you think and believe your life can be compared to the life of John the Baptist? Do you think your spiritual CV can match the quality of the John the Baptist`s CV ? I personally can admit that I am no where close to John the Baptist but i pray that God can work through me for his glory like the way he worked through John the Baptist .

A God of all.

The bible clearly shows that God of the wilderness is still God of the palaces. God of the mountains is still God of valleys. God is still God to the rich and to the poor. Your situation does not mean God is not God. He loves you and wants you to be confident in him ,trusting and having faith in Him. This is for your own good and your salvation. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?