Don’t be afraid, only believe, and you will be saved.
Jeremiah 44:16
“As for the word you spoke to us in the name of the Lord, we are not going to listen to you!"
Time is against the fools. Time will always be a witness. And given enough time, God's judgment against those who rebel against him is played out. The Lord plants and he pulls it up. He builds and he breaks it down. When dealing with the people he created he gives life and sustains it. He sends his prophets to secure the fortunes of the people and he even explains to the prophets that the people will not listen. God makes strong and powerful nations. He establishes systems of justice and judgement. He builds up the laws that govern the people. All the while knowing the people will not listen him.
Jesus said:
"Be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)
Seek the Lord while you can. Find his truth and cling to his word.
Jesus says, "Be alert"
This means to learn his words and keep his commands. Keep watch over your understanding. And be careful to pray through the process. You do this because you'll need to stand before Jesus with a sanctified soul that's been reborn in faith.
Jairus was a synagogue official. The synagogue was not friendly toward Jesus. And this man from the synagogue asks Jesus to come with him because his twelve year old daughter was dying. And the Son of God does.
Luke 8:41
Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’s feet and pleaded with him to come to his house.
So Jesus is going with Jairus to heal his daughter. There's this huge crowd with them. It must have been a great scene. Everyone would have been excited and loud. And suddenly as they're traveling through the streets, someone touches Jesus and power goes out of him into that someone. Healing power drains out of Jesus and goes into a woman who has been suffering from a bleeding disorder for twelve years. I believe it's no coincidence that this woman has suffered for twelve years and meanwhile Jairus' daughter is twelve years old. And in that same moment a member of Jairus' house comes and explains that his daughter is dead.
Jesus replies:
“Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved.”
What if in that incredibly amazing situation, Jairus and all those who were gathered around them said, “As for the word you spoke to us in the name of the Lord, we are not going to listen to you!"
You see...it's not enough to know the word, to even see the amazing works of The Holy Spirit in our lives or others lives. We need to learn how to trust in it and apply it rightly so that we'll cultivate a healthy and fruitful relationship with Christ.
Jairus continues to follow Jesus even after being told that his daughter has died. The family obviously doesn't believe Jesus will save her at this point. They even laugh when Jesus tells them she's not gone yet. Seems like an odd thing to do, and yet Jesus immediately raises the girl up from death. And he tells them to tell no one. Well obviously that didn't work, they definitely didn't obey him in that command, (thankfully for our sake).
So I suppose this is the point. The works of The Holy Spirit that goes out, the power that goes out from Jesus, all of it is a message. Sure it accomplishes material things. Peoples lives are transformed by that power. And at the same time there is a seed being planting. A message is sent out. And a hearing is happening. A cultivating is at work. People are hearing, but are they receiving it?
Do the people hear?
Some don't listen, not trying to be interested. And others hear, but refuse to obey it. Both lack endurance in faith. They may have heard, but they don't abide. And that abiding is the fruit, the evidence of ones relationship faith.
What are you going to do? You going to laugh when Jesus tells you he can raise you up from the dead? Or maybe you're going to tell Jesus right to his face, "As for the word you spoke to us in the name of the Lord, we are not going to listen to you!"
I hope you'll choose wisely.
God bless and keep you.
Amen