ROCK SOLID VERIFIED FAITH
Many years ago, I had a very good friend who was several years older than me. We both began our committed Christian faith in 1975. We were part of the same faith community and shared wonderful fellowship together. We studied and loved the Word of God, actively sharing our faith, and eventually we both became pastors.
We each moved to different parts of the country and I had not heard from him in 30 years. Around Christmas of 2018, out of the blue, I received a wonderful, encouraging email from him, in which he expressed many kind and supportive things. I was quite surprised to hear from him and to discover he was writing from Israel. Somehow he’d found out about my situation and wanted to reach out to me.
We have been corresponding over the last 8 years. After that first email in 2018, he shared with me that he had become an Ultra-Orthodox Jew and had emigrated to Israel to be part of God’s special nation and the Ultra-Orthodox community there. I was again, very surprised, but very gracious and kind in my response and simply tried to walk in his shoes, as some very painful, difficult things had transpired in his life that were inflicted on him by other Christians. I regularly write to see how he is doing in light of all the attacks on Israel, to be sure he is safe, and simply to let him know I am praying for him and all of Israel. I always focus on the Old Testament truths we have in common in our faith. He has been retired for some years now and spends his days studying Torah and practicing Ultra-Orthodox Judaism in Israel.
Recently, I sent him my Medicinal Spirit video concert, as years ago, he’d told me he loved to hear me sing and play, and I thought he’d enjoy it. To my surprise, I got this note back from him:
“Mark, I know how harsh this sounds, being able to put-on my old self of just 20 years ago, but we are at such eternal odds on certain issues that not only can I not listen to your quite artistic creation, but I can’t even keep the image of your ‘album cover’ on my computer. The times, as Bob Dylan so aptly sang in the 60’s, are a-changin’. And though that is only good prophetic news for The faithful Jew, the same accounts only spell doom for the balance of humanity who oppose those accounts.”
I was taken aback by his comments, but thought to myself, “You know, I will just respond kindly, avoid an argument, and leave it at that.” So I wrote—“Benjamin, Thanks for writing back. I will always treasure the memory of you my friend. I have no fear of the future, my times are in God’s hands and loving care. Take good care, Pastor Mark”
He then wrote this—“Mark, may I ask you, a man who has invested everything in his vision and his mission, and has studied the Scriptures for guidance and support for 50 years, and, therefore, a worthy spokesperson for Christianity…What O.T. references do you cite in support of the statement ‘You have no fear of the future. Your times are in God’s hands and loving care?’. Keep a keen eye out for signs of replacement theology and the name of any foreign deity, i.e., ‘jesus’. Looking forward, with great anticipation, to your reply.”
I was stunned by what my old Christian friend was directly implying by what he wrote. This was a man who had loved Jesus Christ with all his heart and shared Christ with many, many people. I knew it would be in vain to write back reference after reference to him, and instead thought, since he stated he looked forward to my reply, I would take this chance, which may never come again, and try to help him see true reality.
Benjamin,
I ask you my friend—is the archaeological veracity of Old Testament discoveries any more convincing than the veracity of the profound, archaeological discoveries proving the New Testament narrative and the very life of Jesus Christ, his death, and resurrection? Is the veracity of the Old Testament historical record any more evidentiary than the veracity of the historical record of the New Testament, which has been studied and scoured over far, far more through the ages? My goodness, the evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.
The New Testament, and life of Jesus Christ, has had more study, more scrutiny, more men examine its claims than all the prophets combined. Yet, you do not doubt the existence of Moses, Jeremiah, Jacob, nor the stories of Joseph or Daniel. We have a vast written record and eye witness accounts to the life, miracles, teachings, and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable.
If some, or many, choose or refuse to believe or accept the overwhelming evidence, or to ignore it, I can do nothing about that.
I believe Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. I believe Joshua led them to the promised land. I believe the Bible’s story of Esther, Daniel, and have no doubt of the miraculous deeds of Elijah and Elisha. Equally so, I have no doubts whatsoever of the miraculous deeds of Jesus Christ, and the veracity of every New Testament story.
I have personally experienced countless miraculous answers to prayers offered to God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, over the last 50 years. So many it blows the mind and inflames my faith.
We have the personal testimonies of countless millions upon millions, down through the ages, whose lives have been completely and utterly transformed by Jesus Christ and his powerful work in their own personal life. This is also irrefutable evidence of the Risen Christ and his Deity.
My faith, my hope, rests completely on God’s revealed son, whom the prophets spoke about, who was revealed to us all, in these last days.
The New Testament is without question as reliable and God breathed as the Old Testament. I could quote you hundreds of verses of sacred text upon which my faith is founded, but, as you discount the veracity of the New Testament, it would be to no avail.
As the Old Testament states—“My righteous one will live by Faith.” I live by that faith in Yahweh, in Jehovah, in the Creator of the Universe, in the Holy One of Israel, in the Great I Am. The Prince of Peace. My Everlasting Father. My Almighty God.
I have no doubts whatsoever who holds my life in the palm of his hands, nor of my eternal future.
For all these years He has led me like the loving Shepherd that he is. He has all my love and devotion. My life lived as a living sacrifice for His glory.
Needless to say, he wrote back simply stating I had given him a “bunch of mumbo jumbo.”
After writing him back again, giving precise Old Testament passages that buttress my faith, I wrote back one last time:
Benjamin,
I’m not running. I’m not hiding, as you’ve accused me of doing. The Lord has been my one holy passion, the joy of my life, and devotion of my entire adult life—body, mind, soul, and spirit for the last 50 years. All that is in me has faithfully served the Lord and his purposes all these years. I have used each and every gift and talent He’s given me to that end.
I have nothing to run or hide from.
I am simply not going to debate what will never be resolved between your beliefs and mine.
I know the rock solid foundation mine are built upon.
Psalm 63 has been the focus of my heart and life all these years, and that will relentlessly continue.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Shalom my friend, Pastor Mark
He never wrote back.
Friends, I share all this with you today to reassure you—your faith is built on rock solid, irrefutable, verified evidence and truth. You have nothing to ever be ashamed of, or to fear.
Jesus Christ is God himself, risen from the dead. The Great I Am, who said to Moses, “Tell them I Am sent you.”
Those of you who would like to read more about the evidentiary proofs of your faith, I highly recommend The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel.
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
