My journey this week led me to this story from over 30 years ago!
Gail passed by a crudely painted sign often on her way to work. In bold red letters painted on a yellow background were the words, “Peaches-U-Pick–3 mi.” Finally, one day on a drive, they decided to “go check it out.” Less than a mile down the road, they came upon another yellow “Peaches” sign with a red arrow pointing to the right. “That was no three miles!” Then they noticed a small dirt path leading away from the paved highway. Once on the path, they saw a smaller sign with only a red arrow directing them into a field of tall grass. And they plunged on through! A red-tailed hawk was sitting on a fence. When they got closer, the hawk swooped overhead and screeching loudly flew off. “Maybe he is the lookout,” Gail said.
Emerging on the other side of the field, they found another red arrow to guide them deeper into the woods along another crooked “pig’s tail” trail. Any time the path took a turn or seemed to disappear, another arrow beckoned them on. At exactly the three-mile point, they were greeted by a yellow dog who looked as if he had been standing there waiting for them. They parked beneath a tree canopy next to a small trailer and two more dogs and several cats and–peach trees as far as the eye could see. No one seemed to be home. But nearby was a wooden table topped with baskets and a poster with a map of the layout of the orchards and a message. “Welcome friends. Peaches are $5 per basket. Pick all you want. Then put the money in the slot below. Have fun.”
“How do you know where to start?” asked Gail’s husband. Gail spoke loudly while looking at the dogs, “Well, do you guys wanna pick peaches?” They started barking and bouncing around, and then, raced off ahead. It was obvious they knew the routine! The couple followed the dogs to a grove where the trees were loaded with beautiful ripe fruit. Gail ran to one tree, her husband to another, each followed by a dog companion. When their baskets were full, they headed back, their new doggy friends leading the way. They put the peaches in their cooler and took out a wallet.
The biggest tiger cat they had ever seen was asleep next to the money slot. “Do you think he can count?” After what we’ve seen today,” the husband replied, “he can probably make change!”. They petted the dogs goodbye as another car pulled in. “Do you live here?” “No, but they’ll show you what to do,” Gail said as she nodded at their furry hosts. They watched the man read the directions on the poster. Then he picked up a basket and followed the barking, bouncing dogs to the orchard. And they slowly drove away while looking back at the simple place of pure enjoyment. The title of this story from an article in Reader’s Digest from many years ago was A Reason to Believe. As I enjoyed the story, I was reminded of the many reasons I have “To Believe.” “A reason to believe” is a deeply personal and meaningful part of anyone’s faith, based not only in intellectual evidence but also in everyone’s personal experience. Christian tradition has a somewhat compelling reason for belief, and also can acknowledge that faith often grows the most during times of uncertainty and doubt.
For many, the reasons for belief are rooted in historical and rational questioning. While the arguments may not sway every person, they do offer strong evidence for those of us who are serious inquirers. My Christian faith stands in part on the real history of Jesus Christ, who said he was God in human form. The earliest followers of Jesus insisted they were eyewitnesses to his majesty and resurrection, not simply following clever stories. The intricacy and order of the universe, from the vastness of space to the workings of the human eye, point to an intelligent designer and creator rather than just a random accident and is strong evidence of creation for me nearly every day. I am constantly amazed by the tiniest parts of everything working together and can’t exist without each other–layers upon layers of intricateness that can only be possible by an all knowing omniscient God. The Bible’s consistency, its survival through history, and its support from archaeological findings offer a strong basis for its reliability and trustworthiness. I love to read stories of archaeology finds that prove that the Bible speaks truth in history. Christian faith has always been a force for good throughout history, inspiring social reform, compassion, and a worldview that has shaped Western society and beyond.
Beyond the historical and philosophical arguments, faith in God is a matter of the heart, a living relationship that transforms a person from the inside out. There are many stories of people who, even while their unbelief is a willful rejection of God, their doubt can be a catalyst for spiritual growth. Even strong believers have experienced doubt, but they have continued to lean to God, using their questions to deepen their faith. For many, the greatest reason to believe comes from the transformative power of faith seen in their own changed life or in the lives of others. Obedience to Christ produces a peace and a change that serves as a powerful witness to His reality. Faith is not about having unshakable belief, but about trusting an unshakable God even when everything within you trembles. It is a process of being willing to step forward to believe, even when you do not see the entire path ahead.
There is a difference between a doubter and an unbeliever. A doubter looks for a reason to believe. An unbeliever looks for any reason not to believe. *God accepts doubters, but He rejects unbelievers. When John the Baptist expressed his doubt about Jesus, the Lord dealt gently with him. Then Jesus spoke to the crowd who had heard His exchange with John’s disciples. He knew some people would think less of John after what they had heard, so Jesus told them, “Among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28). Jesus praised John’s faith. I’m glad God doesn’t judge us by one episode in our lives. My faith sank to a big low a number of years ago. I am so glad that I can be forgiven for my doubt. I needed to think about the way God dealt with Abraham–he had one screw-up after another, yet the Bible calls him “the friend of God” (James 2:23). And David was guilty of adultery and murder, yet God called him “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). Hallelujah! God doesn’t judge me by one episode in my life; He takes the long view of me. Jesus was saying, “John’s momentary lapse of faith is not who John is. My favorable impression of him remains firm.”
Here’s how the Pharisees responded to Jesus’s praise of John: “The Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John” (Luke 7:30). Jesus often had harsh words for the Pharisees because they rejected Him as Messiah. You might say, “John the Baptist also questioned whether Jesus was the Messiah. What was the difference?” The answer is that while John experienced doubt, the Pharisees were plagued with unbelief. To illustrate the difference between doubt and unbelief, Jesus told a brief parable that I like: “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep’” (vv. 31–32). Jesus was saying, ““You Pharisees are just like those children. You don’t like to do anything. You won’t receive anybody. You Pharisees are looking for reasons not to believe. John the Baptist preached a message of repentance, and you said, ‘We don’t like that. It’s too hard.’ Then I came and preached a message of grace, and you said, ‘We don’t like that either. It’s too easy.’” A doubter looks for a reason to believe; an unbeliever looks for any reason not to believe. God accepts doubters, but He rejects unbelievers. Jesus was saying, John the Baptist came and said, ‘Repent!’ And you said, ‘We don’t want to listen to that. That message is too hard.’ In the story of the peach orchard, the couple could have said it was too hard to believe there was an actual orchard ahead, if they followed the signs. Yet it was really there.
For my husband and I, we have many Reasons to Believe. Our reasons started before we even knew about each other! I knew that someday I wanted to marry a man who was like my father in many ways and one that was planning to be a pastor. For Garry, he had requests too! Garry was given answers to prayers before he even knew my existence. He wanted to live on a farm and have 3 or more children. God blessed us with our requests coming true. Garry heard a voice telling him to not go back to his former girlfriend. When he didn’t, God had timing that allowed for us to meet and form a strong relationship. Garry once felt the steering wheel turn when he had fallen asleep and was headed to an overpass pillar. He has always felt that God sent angels to keep a bad accident from happening. Other times continue to give us Reasons to Believe! We know that God was directing when Garry received directions about saving his phone and keeping our dog safe. When he disobeyed, the consequences proved that he had ignored messages from the Holy Spirit!
The fact that we have survived devastation from several tornadoes and strong storms makes us have Reasons to Believe in God’s protection. The thousands of miles driven and of travel have us thanking God for safety. We are very blessed! We have been provided for when we did not see our way forward financially or needing places to live. Those provisions have given us Reasons to Believe. Our children are strong in the church; I was given life-saving diagnoses even when I was defying health recommendations. Daily I have more Reasons to Believe than to Doubt!
Jesus was talking with Thomas and said to Thomas that there are those who have faith without having seen Me. They had Reason to Believe.
Notice the things that Peter associates with faith: “a living hope,” “eternal inheritance,” “never fade or fail,” “salvation,” “praise, honor, and glory,” and “joy that is glorious and beyond words.” Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things. You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you, even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last. Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith. (1 Peter 1:3-9)
I like Peter’s words. Especially when facing difficulties, maybe even because of our faith, I can or should remember Peter’s words when wondering whether it is worthwhile to continue along my own path of faith. Peter’s words were spoken with the honesty of his proven and challenged faith. Peter’s words were tested by fire. He had endured hardship, ridicule, threat, and persecution and yet refused to renounce his faith in Me after My resurrection. When facing possible death if he and his fellow apostles continued to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection. They, along with Peter, had a Reason to Believe!
What a good lesson from a good story!