If you’re a new Christian, let me give you a little insight. Sometimes God will tell you to do something, but He won’t tell you why.
The Puzzle of John the Baptist’s Influence
What made John the Baptist so special?
His one sermon topic consisted of condemning words and judgment. He called the religious leaders “snakes” and demanded they repent—quickly!
Abrasive. Hard-headed. Bold. Fearless. John the Baptist spoke harsh spiritual truths to anyone who’d listen. Peasants, fishermen, priests, brick layers, kings, potters, enemy soldiers—he blasted them all, with strong word pictures about God’s wrath against sinners.
Why did the Jews Listen to this Strange Man?
Men and women who repented got dunked under water. If it was someone John didn’t like, they may have gotten held under the water’s surface a little bit longer. His dress? Rough camel’s hair with a leather belt. His meals? John chowed down on locusts.
Insects.
Of course, being a devote Jew, he followed the dietary laws in Leviticus and only ate “clean” insects.
20 “‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you. 21 There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.22 Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. 23 But all other flying insects that have four legs you are to regard as unclean.
Grasshoppers, crickets and locusts were easily caught. John may have cooked insects in a stew, or roasted or dried them instead. Eating locusts revealed his poverty. Only the poorest Israelites ate insects.
Who would ever seek out this crazy man to learn from him?
Unbelievably, everyone did.
People from all over Judea, including soldiers from the occupying Roman army, came out to hear the prophet’s words and to repent of their sins.
John the Baptist didn’t cause a stir in Israel; he caused an uproar.
But how?
There is no Wasted Effort
Some believers who enter the mission field spend their whole lives preparing their adopted country’s “spiritual soil.”
Digging up rocks of ignorance. Chopping down the dead trees of idolatry. Swinging a spiritual “pickax” to break up the sin-hardened earth.
These Christians do occasionally scatter a little seed here and there, but nothing takes root. Instead, all the seeds of the gospel seem to fall onto hardened concrete. The missionaries who weep and pray and labor in a foreign land get to the end of their lives feeling like they’ve failed.
No sinners repented.
No one came to Christ.
Yet God is pleased by all their hard work.
These faithful believers will find out in Heaven that they accomplished all the Lord gave them to do. Someone has to prepare each country’s spiritual soil. Later, other Christ-followers plant the seed and reap the harvest. But the earlier work is vital in fulfilling the Lord’s purposes.
When we step out in obedience, the Holy Spirit moves powerfully to change hearts and transform lives.
The Holy Spirit Works in the Heart
No matter how much we plan, we can’t control the outcome. Christians need to use all their God-given abilities and creativity to do the tasks He’s calls each of us to do.
But we are helpless and unable to change anyone’s inner life or their eternal destiny.
- The evangelist has no power to save people.
- A preacher, no matter how talented, can’t cause a single person to feel convicted and repent.
- A Bible teacher can’t change anyone’s mind.by unfolding spiritual truth.
- The intercessor cries out to God about an urgent need for a believer in another country, but never hears what happened as a result of his or her prayers.
We are not in control.
But God is.
When we obey, the Holy Spirit works through us to bring about the Heavenly Father’s will.
Remember John the Baptist?
His powerful influence was due to the Spirit’s work in the hearts of God’s people. John spoke the message God had placed on his heart. The Holy Spirit then used John’s words to make the Jewish nation ready for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
After we obey, God is in charge of what happens next.
Are you dying to be used by God?
These images came from Pixabay.com.
