Needing Proof

Luke 16: ²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

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Feeling a bit unassured, I asked around to see if one of the higher ups was telling the truth about promoting me. When word got back to the person about my inquiries, they said, “I’m sorry, you may not be a fit for this opportunity.”

• There were times when I did not trust what was told to me.
• There were times when I did not completely believe in what was handed to me.
• There were times when I was taught something, yet doubted what I was taught.

JESUS completes HIS recollection of the situation by telling the nameless rich man’s desire. The rich man begged for more comfort in eternity, remembering how comfortable he was on earth. Abraham, who showed his faith on earth, said “No, it’s too late.” Bargaining, the rich man begged specifically to send someone who would rise from the dead. “People won’t believe”, Abraham said.

• GOD wants me to believe in what the prophets wrote.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS plan of salvation for HIS creation.
• GOD wants me to believe in things that are far out of my reach, yet easy for HIM.

Creation, life after death, Heaven and hell, demons and angels, and miracles are things GOD tells me to believe in, yet there were many times when I doubted. I went for the next best thing which was proof. I needed proof that everything happened as it was told. So I dug into research and could only come to one conclusion, GOD IS. I now fully believe and beg HIS forgiveness for needing proof.

• Do you doubt GOD’s love for you?
• Are you blaming HIM for your life or are you grabbing onto HIS love for you?
• Can you accept JESUS as your savior today without requiring more proof?
• If you need love, will you seek what HE says about HIS love for you today?