5/6/07

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6)

Some time ago, one of those emails which are forwarded many times was circulated on the internet. It was called, “A Glass of Milk” and here’s what it said:

“A poor boy named Howard Kelly who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one dime left and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said..... "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.”

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room and went in to see her. She was older, but he recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her. He gave special attention to her and after a struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words..... "Paid in full with one glass of milk!" Signed Dr. Howard Kelly. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands." The email closed with a plea that it be forwarded to others.

I looked up the “Glass of Milk” account on Truthorfiction.com, and found that “it is actually based on a true story about the real Dr. Howard Kelly, a distinguished physician who, in 1895, founded the Johns Hopkins Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Johns Hopkins University. According to Dr. Kelly's biographer, Audrey Davis, the doctor was on a walking trip through Northern Pennsylvania one spring day when we stopped by a farm house for a drink of water. A little girl answered his knock at the door and instead of water, brought him a glass of fresh milk. He visited with her briefly; then went his way. Sometime after the girl came to him as a patient and needed surgery. After the surgery, the bill was brought to her room and on it were the words, ‘Paid in full with one glass of milk.’"

The doctor did this because he was grateful for what the girl had done. He was not in any way indebted to her, but was simply inspired to help because of her kindness.

Something similar happened two thousand years ago when the Son of God came to this earth to be our Savior. He was not indebted to us in any way. He owed us nothing. He came as one of the millions of babies who enter the world all the time, but He was special beyond our ability to understand it. His advent was God’s way of knocking on the door of your heart and mine. Will you let Him in? Your faith is more to the Lord than the drink of milk given to Dr. Kelly. Will you give Him your faith?  The Son of God is the Great Surgeon, sent to remove our sin and shame, and replace it with love. Will you trust in Him?

The greatest question in life is: What does God want? Will He insist that you attend a certain school and excel in your classes? Is it a requirement that you never miss a service in church again? Are you to give a certain portion of your income to some cause or another? What does He want from you, so that you will receive His love?

It’s time for us to LISTEN to Him, for He IS telling us what He wants. The reason the Bible is called “God’s Word” is because He speaks to us right out of its pages. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). It’s alive with the life of God. When we prayerfully read His Word, the Holy Spirit gives us understanding. An example of His message is found within today’s Scripture. It says with simplicity and clarity, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

We are told to have “faith” in the God who made us; to be faithful men and women. But you might reasonably ask: what is this “faith” (or “faithfulness”) anyway? In the ancient Hebrew language, “emunah,” translated as “faithfulness,” carries the direct meaning of “certainty.” Faith is not wishful thinking and it is not merely thinking in a positive manner, though true faith will make you a positive person. True faith is the CERTAINTY that God exists and that He cares for us all, including you and me.

True faith is like gravity. You can’t touch gravity, but you can feel it, every time you raise your hand or pick up a pencil. Gravity is a force that surrounds you and shapes your life. You can choose to not believe in gravity, but it is certainly very real. Scripture teaches us, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Like gravity, “faith” is a very real force, though you cannot see it with your eyes.

An amazing thing about faith is how it comes about. It is not something you create within yourself through effort. Scripture teaches that “Jesus (is) the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). When we demonstrate our willingness to say “yes” to His call, no matter how feeble our intent might be, the Lord responds by planting HIS faith deep within us, much like a precious seed is carefully planted in the Lord’s garden.

Now, without THIS kind of faith, which is to say, HIS faith in us, “it is impossible to please Him.” This is the kind of faith in which you can “BELIEVE” with CERTAINTY “that He is.” And you can KNOW “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). You find yourself growing in His love, acquiring hope, joy and more. And you have LIFE that lasts – forever. Do you want this faith? Let’s pray:

Lord, I say “yes” to You. Thank You for accepting me by faith. In Jesus Name. Amen.