AGNOSTICISM AWAKING

AGNOSTICISM AWAKING!

John 4:19-26

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

         Our culture is now suffering a creeping agnosticism that is being fed by world-wide despair caused by the ineptitude of leadership! The result is that we are all becoming like the woman at the well. All she would confirm is that which she could perceive (verse 19). She affirmed little else. Vincent McNabb (1868-1943) said: “When agnosticism has done its withering work in the mind of man, the mysteries remain as before; all that has been added to them is a settled despair.”

  

           Mr. W. M. H. Aitken comments on this portion: “This agnosticism is not to be wondered at even with our clearer light. God is defined as an infinite Spirit -- two splendid negations. When the woman heard Christ's declaration of the nature of God, she immediately fell back on another thought -- the Messiah. Trace the progress of this spiritual growth -- the awakening of a vague thirst; the definite conviction of sin; the desire to worship truly; the conviction of the coming of a perfect teacher; Christ's disclosure of His Messiahship; His glad communication; the conviction on her word and by personal experience, of the Samaritans that Christ was the Saviour of the world.” (from The Biblical Illustrator Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006)

           This tortured woman slowly moved from what she did not know to what she knew to be true. This is the journey each of us must take or else we bog down in the slimy pit of confusion and despair. Do not fear to put Jesus to whatever test you will. He is real. You can trust him when He says to you: “I that speak unto thee am he.”

Heb 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Dear Lord, please sit at the well a moment with those today who are of a questioning mind. Patiently wait while they journey from uncertainty to belief. AMEN