Increasing Faith (2)

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” John 12.20, 21

Visions of sugar plums?
The children in Clement Moore’s poem, “The Night before Christmas,” were, I fear, in danger of missing the point of the whole season. I may be reading more into Mr. Moore’s poem than is justified, but I can’t help it. I think about this every time I hear that lovely ditty.

Christmas isn’t about “sugar plums.” Christmas is about Christ.

See, these kids went to bed on Christmas Eve focused on the wrong thing. For them, Christmas was all about things and stuff – “visions of sugar plums danced in their heads” – as they lay down to await the exciting day ahead. Now they didn’t know whether or not they were going to receive any sugar plums. Maybe lumps of coal would end up in their stocking? But those unseen sugar plums were what they saw in their mind’s eye and therefore what they hoped for as they lay nestled all snug in their beds on that snowy December 24^th.

And a good many Christians live just like this. For them the Christian life – believing in Jesus – is about getting something – some feeling or benefit or other blessing which, they’re convinced, can’t be found anywhere else. Visions of various kinds of sugar plums – health and wealth, a place in heaven, peace and freedom from guilt – dance in their heads as they think about their faith.

And, like those children in “The Night before Christmas,” such Christians are in danger of missing the whole point of Christian faith.

It’s about Jesus, you see
The Gospel is not about us. The Good News is not that we can be rich or healthy or peaceful or guilt-free or secure in heaven.

The Good News is that Jesus has risen from the dead, is seated in glory at the Father’s right hand, and is bringing a new world order of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, on earth as it is in heaven (Rom. 14.17, 18).

This Good News is amazing in that it affects all of life – all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities, everything we are and possess – and makes all things new, refracting the glory of the Triune God into our everyday life experiences. The Good News is that we could actually end up with nothing in this life, and still have everything, because we have Jesus.

This is because Jesus is exalted in glory. Jesus is reigning at the right hand of God. Jesus speaks His Word of power and the whole vast cosmos obeys and does its thing and keeps its place. Jesus commands His angels and they serve us for His glory and praise. Jesus is putting all His enemies under His feet. Jesus is reconciling the world and everything in it to God. Jesus is radiant in glory, mighty in splendor, brilliant in wisdom and power, unstoppable in everything He intends. He is the great unseen thing of our heavenly calling, and He fills the vision and commands the obedience of every true believer.

The more clearly we “see Jesus” with the eye of faith and understanding(Eph. 1.15-22), the more our faith will increase, and with it, all the benefits that come with the life of full faith.

But if we insist only on thinking about the “sugar plums” of the Christian life, we’ll never increase in faith.

The vision of Christ
Faith gains assurance and brings forth the evidence of full faith by focusing on the unseen things of Christ and God. The Apostle Paul understood this, and so he commanded us to set our minds on the things that are above, where Christ is seated in the heavenly places (Col. 3.1-3). The starting-point for increasing faith is to improve our vision of Christ exalted in glory, and to devote more time and effort at making that vision the guiding vision and hope of all our experience.

This is a work of faith and love in which, through prayer and meditation, we engage our imaginations with God’s Word as it guides us in thinking about the majesty, splendor, glory, wonder, beauty, mystery, goodness, and power of Jesus exalted in glory. He really is exalted in glory, and the Scriptures plainly teach us, in various places, that it is important and useful for us to envision and think about Him as He is portrayed.

We will increase in faith to the extent that we focus more clearly on the true object of Christian faith. Let us not place our hope in the “sugar plums” of faith, as if these were the great boon, the most abundant blessing to be gained from believing in Jesus. No, the great glory of Christian faith is to know Jesus, to see Jesus, to participate in Jesus, and to partake through Him of the divine glory of our heavenly calling!

By focusing more clearly and consistently on Jesus our exalted and glorious King, we may expect to find our faith increasing, and with it, all the benefits and evidences that declare the reality of Christ and His Kingdom to the world.

For reflection
1.  Do you find that, in your walk with the Lord, you tend to concentrate more on the “sugar plums” of faith, rather than the Author of it? Explain.

2.  Meditate on Colossians 3.1-3. How do you practice this mandate at this time?

3.  Meditate on Ephesians 2.6. What does it mean for you, that you are seated with Christ in heavenly places?

Next steps – Preparation: Jot down any thoughts and images that you think of just now concerning Christ exalted at the Father’s right hand. How often do you think about this during the day? How confident are you that this is as complete a picture of Jesus exalted as you might know? Talk with a pastor or church leader about these questions, and see if they have any thoughts about how to improve your focus on the risen and reigning Christ.

T. M. Moore

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This week’s ReVision study is Part 10 of a 10-part series, “Full Faith.” You can download “Increasing Faith” as a free PDF, prepared for personal or group study. Simply click here.