Collapsed by a Glacial Flood: Jesus' Deepest Desires, Part 6
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say
to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be
impossible for you." (Matt 17:20 NIV)
A well-built highway bridge is there to stay. For a lifetime at least. Unless a
war breaks out, who would ever think that such a bridge could be instantly
broken up! Impossible!
Maybe we have problems with faith because we do not really believe in the
impossible!
On July 9, 2011, a glacial flood, seemingly out of nowhere, came upon highway
No.1 in south Iceland, by the river Múlakvísl on Mýrdalssandur. The flood was
thought to be the result of a tiny eruption underneath the icecap of the
Mýrdalsjökull glacier, probably in the crater of the Katla volcano. The eruption
melted the ice on the bottom of the glacier, sending flood waters cascading onto
the plain where the racing water tore out the highway bridge across the
Múlakvísl. One moment the bridge was there, the next it was-gone!
If immense, solid bridges can be so easily moved, imagine what can be moved by
faith that is anchored in our Father in Heaven!
Jesus, the One who had mountain moving faith, explained why moving mountains was
possible: "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in
me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living
in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and
the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles
themselves." (John 14:10-11 NIV)
Jesus was literally anchored in the Father, so much that His words were "not
just His own". His words came from the Father, who was "doing His work".
"That's swell and good, but I don't have such a relationship with the Father!"
Maybe not yet, but we are all set to experience God fully, if you let Him!
Once we have accepted Jesus into our life, our existence changes drastically for
the better!
"For in him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28 NIV)
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives
in you?" (1 Cor 3:16 NIV)
Just like Jesus. We are "in the Father, and the Father is in us". God's very
Spirit lives in us! The problem is, we rarely tap into that Power! If we did,
the impossible would become possible, just as Jesus declared:
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been
doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the
Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring
glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
(John 14:12-14 NIV)
Faith that moves mountains is only possible if it is placed on the One who
showed us this kind of faith!
Why do we seemingly "miss the boat"? Because our petitions are not geared
towards "bringing glory to the Father"! Too often our requests, though asked in
the name of Jesus, are truly based on our own desires, so that OUR will may be
done!
Yes, solidly-built bridges can be moved. Yes, Jesus still heals, still frees
those in bondage, and still comes to the aid of those in distress. Nothing is
too difficult to God! We have reason to believe in the impossible. To make this
possible we need to acquaint ourselves with the Miracle Maker. Only a strong,
intimate relationship with Him will open doors that never could be opened
before. Only such a relationship will comfort the broken-hearted and sustain us
amidst adversity. The key of mountain-moving-faith is in one person, the One who
paid the price to make this possible.
"Where's our bridge? It was just there last week?"
That's what the police of North Beaver township, Pennsylvania asked themselves
on October 6, 2011. Someone had stolen the 50-foot-long, 20-foot-wide bridge,
probably dismantling it to be sold as scrap. No witnesses could be found.
If bridges can be moved, imagine what would happen if we tapped into faith!
Rob Chaffart