THE FAITH OF A PROPHET

-Marco Andrino

After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. Think about this: Take John the Baptist to represent our faith, since after all he is the messenger sent to prepare the way for Jesus and our faith if the vehicle through with the message of Christ goes out to the world. When they went out to the wilderness they didn't see a reed swayed by the wind, in other words they didn't go find someone whose faith was shaped by external circumstances or social pressures. And they didn't find someone dressed in fine clothes, for our faith is not based on external adornments, or consumed with the things that are of value to the world. What they found was a man who was unshakable and uncompromising, a wild man who was so magnetic that people left the comfort of their town to venture into the wilderness to see him. What does our faith look like? To answer that we must first clarify what our faith is in.
What does faith look like when it’s in something temporal, like career, family, money, etc? The story of Job gives us a clear picture of the fleeting nature of all things of the world. Putting your faith in them is like hammering a stake into sand. They are unreliable by their very nature because they are subject to outside variables which can destroy them. This faith will look like the reed in the wind.
What does faith look like when it’s in our knowledge and understanding, abilities or talents? I am the master of my own destiny, the captain of my own ship. Through my own strength, skill, and knowledge I will work my way to heaven. Take a lesson from King Nebuchadnezzar, who was contemplating how great he was when God struck him down and left him eating grass like an ox. He lost his sanity until he repented of his pride and humbled himself to God. You see, this faith is also like a reed in the wind.
What does faith look like when it’s in our faith? By this I mean, our religious traditions, like our church services, discipleship partners, d-times, bible talks, sharing of our faith, the Sunday sermon, the church leadership, and our Sunday attendance. This kind of faith is the most dangerous because it has the appearance of Godliness, but is not God. Consider this analogy: to combat a strong virus, we inject ourselves with a weak version of the same virus. This creates antibodies which will immunize us from both the weak and the strong. When we replace the true God for a weak semblance of Him, we run the danger of numbing ourselves to both the weak version and the true God.
Consider the words of Christ in Matthew 7:22-23: Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
This too is like a reed in the wind.
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So what does faith look like when it’s in Christ? For this we should first describe who Christ is:
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus calls himself the way, meaning the way to the father, which is the only way that matters. Just like when we stand before God in Judgment there will only be one evaluation: “were we Disciples of Christ?” so here on earth there is only one way that matters, the way of Christ. The path he has laid, and the life he has called us to.
He is also the truth, and truth by its very nature is not subject to change. It’s immovable. Like anchoring your tent stake to an iron ring, you can have full confidence in it. Christ is truth because Christ is God, never changing, and always victorious, all powerful, all knowing, and all loving. Who can stand against the Lord?
Christ is also the life. He can say this because he is the essence of life and the creator of all life. Separation from God is death. This is why all men instinctively fear death, because we are created in the image of God and God is life.
This type of faith is the faith of a prophet. This is the faith that makes those around us stop and take notice. In the words of King David in Psalm 18:

28 You, LORD, keep my lamp
burning; my God turns my darkness
into light.
29 With your help I can
advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is
flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the
LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms
me with strength and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the
feet of a deer; he causes me to
stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for
battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help
my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help
has made me
great.
36 You provide a broad path
for my feet, so that my ankles do not give
way.

Only a faith in Christ can produce this! Only the great Lion of Judah can turn us into mighty warriors.