Naaman said, “If not, please let your servant at least be given two mules’ load of earth; for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering nor will he sacrifice to other gods, but to theLord (2 Kings 5:17). 

Naaman experienced first hand the power of God. He was delivered from his leprosy in a miraculous way. As a result, he believed that the LORD was God and there was no other. 

When I came to America and prior to saving faith, I was allowed to hear the Gospel no less than ten times. At last I both understood and believed and was saved. 

Yet, I wonder about the many that have never heard. I wonder about those that only heard once. I wonder about those that heard, but their hearts were unprepared to receive the message. I wonder about those that heard but failed to understand. I wonder about those that heard but refused to believe because they chose not to gullibly accept everyhing they hear. 

O LORD, these things that I wonder about only affirm to me the necessity of Your effective calling and work of grace in salvation. I believed because You caused me to believe. I am saved because of Your mysterious, unsearchable and sovereign will. I was Naaman, dead in my trespasses and sins, worshipping the idols taught by my parents, my culture and my life experience. I am Naaman, healed and saved by the word of God spoken through His prophet. 

Friends, how amazing is the grace of God that saves us. It touches some but not all, and not all the same. And salvation is all of grace, for who in their sanity would choose eternal judgment over eternal life? Can Naaman be criticized for doubting the prophet's command about washing in the Jordan? How many charlatans simply make a fool of us and run? How many have betrayed our trust, stolen our money, and left us ashamed and angry?

Am I now going to criticize my fellow human being because he does not believe? How can I be upset with anyone that fails to believe, for how can they believe what they do not understand and cannot prove? I've had four years of Bible study, six years of seminary training and have been daily in God's Word for decadees, but I know that the essence of God's truth can only be supernaturally discerned. None of my training led me to faith. They only confirmed the faith that God unilaterally produced in me. I am Naaman, one among hundreds of thousands of unbelieving Arameans. But I was chosen, and they were not. I am not worthy, but I am special. 

Friends, our witness is neither contrived nor urgent. It is simple obedience to a command of God, who orders the universe in keeping with what achieves His highest glory. People are not saved by our diligence to witness, nor by our persuasive appeals. They are saved by the inward and effective working of God's Holy Spirit. Yet, we are called to preach and teach and live out the Gospel. We are commanded to pray and to pursue God's revealed will as our central preoccupation.

Yet, let us realize that it is all on the foundation of God's grace from first to last. We can only boast of His grace, and no other boasting makes any sense because they appear so insignificant in light of God's indescribable gift of grace. What is more, every anxiety seems foolish in light of this same limitless grace. Every prayer for safety, provision of daily necessities, and happiness seem naive and childish, for what level of care should we attribute to the affairs of the day when eternal paradise lies just around the corner.

No wonder Solomon concludes that everything is vain except to simply trust God and obey His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13. 

Let us, therefore, enjoy the benefits God has given us in our short lives, which will soon disappear like a passing vapor, like a surf of the sea. Let us worship God, who has extended His grace to save us, even us, and not the millions of others more "worthy" than us. Let us put forth what effort we can, in keeping with His grace in us, to trust and obey His Word, by which our hope is revealed and confirmed to us. Let us stand as witnesses to the power of the Gospel of Christ to save without blaming anyone or condemning anyone, for we would be no better than they apart from the sovereign work of God's grace in us. 

2 kings 4: 28-37

²⁹ He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.”

³¹ Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life.

³⁴ Then he (Elisha) went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.

It is of interest to me that Elisha’s first instructions did not work. I expect that when someone is sent by God that they have great power, great effect. Elisha gave instructions, presumably by God, but it fails.  We see in the new testament a time when the disciples failed to exorcise a demon (Matthew 17).

The reason the disciples were not able to was because of their “little faith.” Which I take to mean something similar to what is taught in James 1: When you ask make sure you are trusting only in God. Double minded people who are between this world and the kingdom should not expect to receive anything.

Later we find that Gehazi tries for a financial gain from the foreign commander, Naaman, a symptom of his littleness of faith. So we can say that this failure to revive perhaps had no reflection on Elisha but rather Gehazi.

When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?” (2 Kings 4:27-28).

As I read about this woman's distress over her dead son, my heart was moved. Then, when Elisha healed him, I was elated. But then I considered this, how many countless other mothers throughout the world suffered the same fate as this woman, but their child died.

To hear stories of the sick being healed and potential catastrophes being averted we listen to preachers. To hear stories of the sick dying and catastrophes happening we listen to the news. Preachers speak once a week and regurgitate the same stories again and again. The news brings current events every moment twenty-four hours a day. Certainly there are many more calamities than "miracles".

What am I saying here? Even when miracles were authentic, they were few and far in between. Today, anything and everything is called a "miracle." "Faith healers" abound, telling stories of "real" miracles, but actually they nothing of the sort. They are more politically correct today than in times past. Before, they use to blame their failed miracles on the other person's lack of faith. Discovering that this was an unpopular explanation for their failure, now they blame it on "God's will," never even considering that it might be their practice of "faith healing" that was against God's will. 

Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind (cf. John 9). The Scriptures document this healing with eye-witness evidence from neighbors who knew him, strangers who had seen him for years, and even his own parents. This was a bonafide miracle. 

I wish we had this level of scrutiny to verify claims of miracles today. Why not invite Channel 4 news to cover it? But instead the stories are vague, and usually only the one telling the story can vouch for it. When others try to verify it, they discover the people supposedly healed have relapsed into their sickness, have gotten worse in their disability or else have died. For example, when someone tried to verify some of Benny Hinn's claims, this is the kind of results they discovered. Yet, even though they proved that he was a fake, there are still thousands today that blindly follow him. 

There are similar claims by self-proclaimed prophets associated with IHOP (the International House of Prayer). Even the well-known organization YWAM (Youth with a Mission) has a number of leaders that make these kinds of miraculous claims without documentation. In this way they diminish the worth of the authentic miracles in the Bible, causing people to presume that biblical miracles are just as undocumented and counterfeit as the claims today. 

How convenient it is for claimants today that the really miraculous only occur in remote villages or jungles or out-of-the-way towns, where there is no television coverage or eye-witnesses. 

I really appreciate the writings and preaching of Francis Chan, but near the end of his book, Crazy Love, he records a number of testimonies, which he goes out of the way to claim were all true (see chapter 9). Why is this necessary?! He was not present in these stories. He did not document their veracity. It has the same effect of someone saying something, and then following up with words like "trust me" as if this should give greater credance to what was said. It does just the opposite.

One of the stories he told was of Brother Yun, who claimed that he went without food or water for seventy-four days. While F.Chan admits that this was medically impossible, he simply asserts without any kind of evidence that "God sustained him (i.e. Brother Yun)." What is more, he records as fact that B.Yun miraculously walked out  of a locked prison, even after his legs were "broken." Again, no evidence. With such loose claims, how can a person trust anything F. Chan writes or says. 

I love to hear about miracles, but when they fail to hold true under scrutiny, it distresses me that some Christians feel that they have to resort to fabricating stories to gain an audience for the Gospel. 

I remember a man named Darrel Gillyard, who was a dynamic preacher, who even lived in my hometown of Dallas, Texas. I heard him at my alma mater, Liberty University, for the first time. At the time, I thought he was the best preacher I had ever heard. He also had a very moving story about growing up under a bridge since he was thirteen with only a Bible. It turned out that this story was fabricated in view of the testimony of the woman who raised him till he was 19. What is more, he was thrown out of no less than four churches for making advances toward various women in the congregation. He was also convicted twice of sexual molestation and only recently released from prison. As gifted as Darrell Gilyard was, he bore a false witness. It would be many years before he was exposed. I recently heard that he would be reinstated into the pulpit and had already gained a large following. 

Friends, this is a reflection on our times. I know that many of you will gullibly follow dynamic speakers with their miraculous stories that come from places like IHOP and YWAM, but I pray that God will help you come to your senses. At least examine their claims. And certainly test what they say to see if their teaching remains within the boundaries of God's Word (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:6).

But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? (2 Kings 5:26 NLT)

Friends, with the end of April we have completed one-third of this year. I am wondering how you are? I would love to hear that you have been faithfully meditating on God's Word. In some ways this is easy for us, who feel "called" into this ministry, because we are compelled by both the Spirit and duty to do it, and some even by pay. But many of you have no such "calling," but you do it because you know there is nothing better than this in the LORD to prepare you for a life that pleases Him. Therefore, I encourage you to persevere. Your efforts are not in vain. 

This week I watched three little kids playing together in the church play area. Each one was carrying a volleyball. Each volleyball was a different color: one white, one pink, and one blue. A little girl with the pink volleyball wanted a different color one. She tried to take the blue volleyball away from the boy who had it. But he didn't want to give it to her. And they struggled. I told them just to be happy with the one they had. But they were clearly upset. Then another little girl, who had the white volleyball, with no prompting from me, went over to the girl with the pink volleyball and offered her white one to her. My heart was touched. Soon all the volleyballs were thrown aside and they went back to playing together on the jungle gym. 

As I reflected on this, I saw almost the same thing happen between grown adults. Speaking metaphorically, one was jealous of the other one's volleyball. And they struggled and were resentful. But unlike the children, there was no one who was willing to give up their volleyball for the other. And in the end, they did not throw aside their volleyballs and play together. They continued in their resentment, even to the breaking point. And I realized that sometimes even grown adults can learn from children.

In our reading today, Elisha heals the Aramean commander Naaman of leprosy. He refuses payment but gives all the credit and glory to the LORD. Then this Aramean commander embraces the LORD as his only and true God. But Elisha's servant, Gehazi, for reasons unknown, deceptively and stealthily gets payment from Naaman. But Elisha is enabled by the LORD to see what Gehazi did. And Elisha tells Gehazi, "Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female sevants?" (2 Kings 5:26).

Israel was being judged by God, for they were suffering a famine. God had also been using Aram to judge Israel. It was not the time to be receiving gifts. It was a time for the nation to repent. It was a time for the people to humble themselves before God, not to get every little benefit or advantage they could from their circumstances. Gehazi and the generations after him are punished with Naaman's leprosy. 

Friends, let us understand what is truly important for us to do in this life, especially those of us who acknowledge that the LORD is God and Jesus is our Savior. Let us not get caught up in worldly quibbles or harbor resentment toward anyone. But let us be busy about humbling ourselves before God and committing ourselves to the proclamation of His Word, so that even if we do gain some benefit, it would not be from ourselves but from the Lord. 

 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)

Once again here in today's reading, we see God's love and mercy was not limited to the Israelites as we may think. The name of the Lord was glorified by this gentile general who is Israel's enemy when His own people were not showing any reverence to their God. Blessed be the heart that truly seeks after God! Gehazi, in contrast, who had been witnessing a good number of God's awesome wonders performed by his master, Elisha, did not show any faithfulness to the Lord and his greed brought disaster upon himself. I reflect upon my life again by meditating on today's reading whether I am concerned about His Kingdom or my own agenda here. In any decision making process, I should seek His kingdom first because I would never know when God uses me to bring His people to Himself just as Elisha's reputation did to Naaman. Every word we say and every deed we show matters unless we live on a no man island. If we try to live righteous life with our own strength, we will fail with no doubt, but we will be used by God to bear fruit when we are obedient. Have a great week!