Lauriualt: Christians should be witnesses of Jesus' presence in their lives

Here's a riddle for ya (don't worry, I'll give the answer): How can someone run all four red lights in an intersection in one maneuver?

Sound impossible? It's not (at least, that's what I think). While on vacation recently in another state, I had missed my destination and needed to turn around when I came upon a secluded intersection with a lot of space.

So, I made a U-turn from a green arrow, but by the time I cleared the intersection, I had passed three red lights and my original green arrow had turned red (it was a very short light indeed). Consequently, if an astute member of law enforcement had been on the scene, that maneuver could possibly have netted me five tickets because the U-turn may have also been illegal.

Sometimes, we get hung up on impossibilities from a human standpoint and miss out on God's blessings by living to please him (Hebrews 11:6). When Mary learned about Jesus' birth, she didn't know how it could happen but she believed God and yielded herself to his will (Luke 1:26-38). When Thomas heard that Jesus arose from the grave, he wouldn't take the testimony of the Eleven who'd already eyewitnessed the resurrection (John 20:19-31). Thomas said he wouldn't even believe his eyes, but that he'd also have to touch Jesus. Remember, he had seen Jesus raise others from the dead (Luke 7:11-15; 8:41, 42, 49-56; John 11:1-44). So, he knew that could happen.

Jesus doesn't walk among us today in a physical form, but he is among us nonetheless in the lives of those who through faith have repented of their transgressions, confessed his name, and submitted to baptism in his name (Romans 10:8-13; 6:3-5; Acts 22:16; 2:38, 39; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:6, 7; 5:24, 25; 1 John 5:6-13; 2:3-6). There're no more living eyewitnesses to the resurrection, but Christians have the witnesses of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the blood Jesus shed on the cross, and the fact that they've been crucified with him in the baptismal waters. We can know we're God's children (Romans 8:9-17).

Because there are no more eyewitnesses, Christians are to be witnesses of the presence of Jesus in their lives. To be most convincing in that regard, we're to demonstrate to the world what the world considers to be impossible – the self-sacrificing love of Jesus (John 15:13; 13:34, 35; Romans 5:6-8). Our lives are to be such a delightful contrast to theirs that they cannot help but proclaim glory to God, acknowledging his sovereignty over their lives as Thomas did when he said, "My Lord and my God!" (Matthew 5:14-16, 38-48; 1 Peter 2:11, 12; 3:15, 16; John 20:28).

Is your life a witness to the resurrection as you accomplish seemingly impossible (unbelievable) feats demonstrating Jesus' love in and through your life (2 Corinthians 4:6, 7)? Remember, nothing's impossible for God, but we must allow him to work through us (Philippians 2:12, 13; Ephesians 3:14-21). He only expects us to do what we can, giving us the ability through prayer (1 John 5:1-3; Mark 14:1-9; 9:17-29; 11:22-24; Philippians 4:13, 19).

Leonard Lauriault is