Do You Believe the Eyewitness?

A number of years ago I served for three months on a grand jury in Anchorage. The function of the grand jury is to show up on time when you are called and hear testimony of several witnesses, among them, eye witnesses. Based on the testimony we heard and after asking questions of the witnesses, we voted yea or nay on issuing an indictment. We heard testimony from many people, relating to many different cases over those three months. Some of the most important testimony was from eye witnesses. We believed some, and others we did not believe.

One of the blessings we have in our Bible is the testimony of the eye witness, and our choice is to believe or disbelieve. Holy, inspired men and women of God have carefully laid out their testimony of their experiences with God and with His Son, Jesus Christ. Their testimony has survived every test the world can throw at it. It still changes peoples lives because of its truth. God can tell nothing but the truth and when we believe by faith, that truth sets us free. (John 8:36; John 14:6).

For the Apostle Paul, there was no mistaking the experience he had on the road to Damascus. Still in the midst of threats, conspiracies and murder against the Church, Paul (or Saul at that time) had an unforgettable experience with the ascended Jesus Christ. He is ready to meet leaders of the synagogue in Damascus to carry out these plans against the Church but as he nears the city, he has a meeting with Jesus that knocks him off his horse and blinds him for a time in the light around him. Saul's first statement from the ground is "Who are You, Lord?" He immediately had the witness that the voice he heard was to be called 'Lord.' From that day on, Paul (God changed his name, as He did everything in his life) gladly gave eyewitness testimony of the transformation he had in his life and the credit belonged to Jesus.

The Apostle Peter was preaching to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:36-43) "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. And we ARE WITNESSES OF ALL THINGS which He did..." The apostles eyewitness never softened, remained consistent to the end of their lives. The kind of eyewitness the whole world could believe in! Even the prophets of the Old Testament saw the Messiah by faith, Peter goes on, "To Him all the prophets witness that, [Jesus was to be Judge of the living and the dead] through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." Peter was an eyewitness to the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. An eyewitness to believe. How boldly Peter told the story of the Savior! Can you imagine sitting down with Peter and listening to the complete story of what he saw when he lived with Jesus?

When Jesus was speaking at Capernaum, the multitude asked for a sign, "...that we may SEE it and believe you?" It was show me, and I will believe, with Jesus it is, believe and you will see. The statement that Jesus gives the crowd is, "But I say to you that you have SEEN Me and yet do not believe. (John 6:28-36). How blessed we are to have never seen, yet believe!! We who are transformed by the power of His blood know and have seen by faith that He is real and is everything He said He is.

Blogs permit only a few paragraphs. The scripture is full of eye witnesses who met the Living God and had their lives changed. I challenge you to find the eyewitnesses and believe them! Act on what the Holy Spirit witnesses in your hearts as you search His word.

"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who SEES the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40