Igniting Faith

by Gary M Johnsen

The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-49) on the glorious resurrection day is familiar to any that have come to love the Lord and His sacrifice on behalf of mankind. We stand amazed with them as the story unfolds and we find Jesus walking with them unaware (of His presence) and Jesus (seemingly) unaware of what had transpired in Jerusalem over the past three days. Surely, we are able to grasp and empathize with the communications between the two indicative of confusion and a "sad heart" (24:17). However, after a short walk with Jesus we find the two proclaiming "was not our heart burning within us, while he spake unto us in the way, while he opened unto us the scriptures?" (24:32).

As disciples ourselves, we know that "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17). But, what was it that ignited their faith – a heart burning within them? Our text reveals Jesus "opened their eyes that they might know Him" (24:31) and later in Jerusalem gathered with the others "opened He their mind, that they might understand the scriptures" (24:49). Though the disciples on the road to Emmaus were admonished by Jesus for being "slow to believe in all that the prophets have spoken" (24:25); they had a willing heart to know and understand for "they had hoped that he would redeem Israel" (24:21) and later "disbelieved for joy and ate with him" (24:41) at the realization of their hope.

The psalmist prayed: "open my eyes that I may behold Wonderous things from thy law" (Ps 119:18). Do we have such a heart that we desire to know and understand the will of the Lord? Jesus stated plainly, "if any man is willing let him ... follow me" (Mt 16:24). Do we hunger and thirst for a burning heart to have our eyes opened that we might see and understand the will of the Lord? Jesus said: "blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled" (Mt 5:6). If our heart is not burning within, perhaps it is because we have forgotten "the cleansing of our old sins" (II Pet 1:9) and thereby only seeing what is near (temporal).

Jesus taught (Mt 5:3-4) that a proper humble attitude toward sin i.e. "poor in spirit" and "mourning” would motivate us to draw near toward God that we might be exalted. James wrote of this: "cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts... Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you" (Jas 4:6-10).

Jesus in the Parable of the Sower taught that the disposition of our hearts toward the Word of God will determine whether we will see, hear and understand; or Not (Mt 13:3-23)! Peter taught: "For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner; and, a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed" (I Pet 2:5-8). Let us sing the familiar song with passion: "I stand to praise You, but fall on my knees, my spirit is hungry but my flesh is so weak... so light the fire in my soul; let the flame make me whole, Lord, what You know is where I've been, so light the fire in my soul again."

Let us remember His words and allow them to ignite our faith within and find ourselves walking in an obedient faith with Jesus.