Okay smarty pants.... Dummy up!

New International Version
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.  Luke 10: 21

We are not necessarily at an advantage when we are smart or intelligent. Smart and intelligent is a good thing for taking tests, makes us better learners in some situations and
looks good in a resume if it has led us to success in academic endeavors. Yet, these
abilities can become a real stumbling block when it comes to our ability to accept the
miraculous, accept the things that we weren't meant to understand regardless of our
I Q score. It can become a hazard when it comes to matters of faith and our eternal
souls.

Being human, and let's assume for a moment, somewhat smart, brings the habit of
accepting only that which can be proven. Empiricists we tend to be, relying on that
which we can observe and that which can be recreated and thus proven to happen 
multiple times. "If you expect me to believe that, better show that it is true." It's 
just the nature of our educational system, the scientific method and, quite frankly,
our inability to accept the fact that there are things our there that we were never meant
to understand.

How about a virgin conception?  That doesn't happen! How about calming the winds
and waves with a word? What about being transformed into a creature of immaculate
light only to be returned to a normal state, speaking for a man dead several days to
come out of his tomb. rising from death to resurrection, ascending into the heavens
with the full promise of a similar return when all will take to their knees? 

That which is miraculous is absolutely tied to the concept of faith. One cannot
have faith without a realization that there are miraculous things that God has
designed that we, as humans, cannot, will not and shall not be able to prove.... ever.
We are hindered by our own maturity into adulthood, hindered by losing the child-like,
not childish, ability to accept a truth in the heart.  We are just too smart for our own
well-being and when that creates a block between us and God that leads to unbelief...
well that's a truly frightening thing!

So dummy up, won't you. Take to your knees and ask God to strengthen your belief
and dissolve your doubt. Your eternal existence depends upon it!

Praise God!

Just be careful about the size of the mountain!

Mark 11:23-24 ESV / 

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  

I read with some degree of horror, this week, about a pastor who had been in the news
before for having live snakes in his church in an attempt to prove faith.

Mark 16:17-18 records, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will … pick up snakes with their hands.” 

Turns out that there is some debate about not only what is being said, here, but also about
whether these particular verses were part of the original bible texts. For whatever the reason, this pastor and I am sure there are others, risk life and limb in an attempt to
prove faith in God. 

The Bible is the word of God; it is truth; yet, there are parts that, quite honestly, are written with symbolism and cannot, in my opinion, be taken absolutely literally. There is no
question that God did and does provide unbelievably miraculous outcomes. The
outcomes are the result of God's ability to do anything He chooses to do. This does not
encourage me to rush out and jump into a den of lions. Now I have a house-cat named
Samantha that presents some degree of danger due to her unpredictability and a set
of unforgiving claws, but she is not a lioness. I, also, am not Daniel!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, also I am not. I don't even cook on the stove without

gloves and pot holders at the ready. Again, God is not limited in any way.

But we have to be careful not to assume that all language and statements in the Bible are
literal. I don't know about you, but I am having difficulty imagining my ability to stand
before a mountain of any size, pray fervently that it can be moved, and watching it
change locations. Not even a molehill!

I can show my faith by works that provide proof that my heart is set on doing the work
of God and bring glory to Him. I, being human and pretty old, am limited by those
factors and feel no need to attempt to preform any amazing fetes designed to prove
faith; I just need to live a life that shines with the light of Jesus, as best I can.

I will leave the cool stuff to God. He isn't limited by the size of the mountain!
Praise God!