|
 What
proof have you of Heaven?”
The
question was asked with some belligerence, and the querist
seemed poised for his counter-strike at any reply I might make.
He seemed a bit puzzled when I answered, “None! absolutely
none!”
“None??
Then why would you believe in Heaven?”
I
assured my visitor that I had excellent reasons for believing
there was a Heaven; and that my faith was based upon testimony
that had a proven source. This led us to a discussion of
miracles, and their place.
God’s
plan for divine revelation is really simple and to the point. He
is “declared” unto man by the Son, who was a “manifestation”
of deity — a “demonstration” of God in a way accessible to
man’s grasp. (Jn. 1:18; 14:7-11; 1 Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 2:9) Jesus
gave “proof” of His origin “by miracles and wonders and
signs which God did by Him” before a critical audience —
people that were touched despite deep prejudices. (Jn. 7:45-46
10:19-f; etc) “These are written, that ye might believe —”
(Jn. 20: 30-31).
Jesus
chose messengers, who were given power to work miracles —
prove the source of their message — as they went about
preaching Christ. They began by “speaking with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The Lord worked with them,
“confirming the word with signs following.” God bore them
witness “with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and
gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.” (Acts 2:4
Mk. 16:20 Heb. 2:4)
|
|
In
all of this, it seems evident that Jesus did not attempt to “prove”
WHAT HE SAID — satisfy hearers on a purely logical or
demonstrable basis, that WHAT He said was true. Instead, He gave
them ample proof of WHO HE WAS AND IS. The source was
established, and then “He taught them as one having authority.
and not as the scribes.” (Matt. 7:29)
The
Apostles, likewise, were given power to “confirm the word”
— to establish it as having divine origin, as being indeed the
product of the Holy Spirit, “That your faith should not stand
in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2:
4-5)
The
written word of God, by its internal evidences, by its very work
in the hearts of men, stands today as living proof of its divine
source. It records the life of Jesus the Christ, and of the “many
infallible proofs” that accompanied Him. The “signs” of
the Apostles established their message, and sustain it to this
day.
We
need no further “confirmation” of the word, any more than we
need further miracles to prove that Jesus was and is the Christ,
the Son of the living God. To ask for miracles today. is to
count as nought those now “written that ye may believe”.
Brethren who expect the Holy Spirit to find them a parking
space, may consider themselves the “spiritual ones” but I
see them as lacking in faith. God’s confirmed word is
sufficient to produce faith in the revealed Heaven.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
