A little boy was returning home from the store with a pail of honey. A gentleman was walking beside him as he headed down the road. The gentleman noticed the boy slipping his finger into the pail several times, and the boy's eyes lit up with delight each time.
Curious, the gentleman approached the boy and asked, "Sonny, what do you have in the pail?"
"Some honey, sir," the boy replied.
"Honey? Is it sweet?" the man inquired.
"Yes, sir," the boy responded.
"How sweet is it?" the man continued.
"It is very sweet, sir," the boy answered.
The man looked perplexed. "Son, I still don't understand. I asked how sweet the honey was, and you haven't really told me. How sweet is it?"
By this time, the boy had become impatient. He stuck his finger into the honey, held it out toward the man, and said, "Here, taste and see for yourself!"
The longer I'm a Christian, the more I find myself in similar situations concerning my faith. Whether I'm teaching, preaching, or just witnessing, I can only tell you that faith in Jesus Christ is sweet, but for you to really know just how sweet it is, you'll have to taste it for yourself.
With that thought in mind, I am reminded of two powerful passages: James 3:11-12 and 2 Kings 5:1-19. I pray that with these two portions of scripture, I can magnify the sweetness of the Lord in such a way that you feel compelled to taste it for yourself.
The Need for a Fresh Start
"Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." (James 3:11-12)
In the book of James, James speaks about the impossibility of a fountain producing both sweet and bitter water. He illustrates how a fig tree cannot bear olives and a vine cannot produce figs. The essence of what we are produces only one thing, and it cannot offer anything else. Therefore, to experience a fresh start, we need supernatural help!
Whether we approach a new year, begin a new job, or even step into a new church, we hold onto the hope that it will be different this time. But oftentimes, the challenges remain — unresolved and buried beneath the surface. These moments of reflection can lead us to recognize our own need for a fresh start, but how can we make it a reality?
Take the story of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-19), a commander of the Syrian army who desperately sought a fresh start when he was afflicted with leprosy. Despite being highly regarded — the second most important man in Syria admired for his bravery and strength — Naaman was a leper, symbolizing a powerful picture of sin.
His greatness was overshadowed by a debilitating condition, much like the sin that infiltrates our lives. Leprosy spreads, isolates, and defiles, reminding us that sin can consume us if left unattended.
Before Grace: The Struggle of Pride
Naaman's story reveals the layers of pride he had to navigate. He entered the scene with a letter from his king and an entourage, expecting to receive grand treatment. He envisioned an extraordinary healing process, perhaps a show of power from the prophet Elisha. Yet, in his pride, Naaman nearly lost out on his miracle.
Naaman's pride caused him to dismiss the simplicity of Elisha's instructions, which required him to dip himself into the Jordan River seven times. In his heart, he believed the rivers of Syria were better, a thought many of us share when we resist God's plans because we think our way is better. One preacher called this the Abana-Pharpar Syndrome (the doctor prescribes one thing, and we believe we need another).
In this syndrome, a person prays for God's intervention but imposes their own conditions. For example, we instruct God on how it'll work out best for us and how to go about everything. But the truth was that the rivers in Syria had no hope to give Naaman, yet he looked back with hope in his heart. It's a dangerous mindset that fills us with hope but blinds us to the possibilities that God offers.
After Grace: The Power of Faith
Fortunately, Naaman's story didn't end in despair. Gentle reminders from a faithful servant encouraged him to reconsider. Naaman's servant suggested that if the prophet had asked him to undertake a difficult task, he would have done so without hesitation. What did he have to lose by simply obeying?
In an incredible moment of faith, Naaman dipped himself in the Jordan River seven times, as instructed by Elisha, the prophet. His act of faith and obedience became the key to his healing. This mirrors Hebrews 11:1 & 6, which tells us that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...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."
Naaman's faith transformed his situation, illustrating the profound truth that we often cannot see the outcome until we take that leap of faith.
A story was told of a poet and an artist who examined a painting representing the healing of the two blind men of Jericho. The artist asked, "What seems to you the most remarkable in this painting?" The poet said, "Everything is very clear – the groupings of the individuals, the expression upon faces, etc."
However, the artist found the most significant touch elsewhere. He pointed to the steps of a house in a corner of the picture. "Do you see that discarded cane lying there?" "Yes," said the poet, "but what does that signify?" The artist explains, "The blind man who has rushed to Jesus is so sure he will be healed that he has left his cane behind, as though he could already see."
Faith in what God can do will transform any situation.
A Lasting Legacy
Naaman's fresh start began with faith in God's promise, but it didn't end there. His journey involved service, worship, and, ultimately, surrender. He approached God with an open heart, ready to give whatever he could in payment and worship however he could. His response marked the beginning of his transformation, but surrender always requires sacrifice. Therefore, Naaman learned that true surrender demands change. As a result, Naaman experienced a fresh start in life because of his faith, surrender, sacrifice, and obedience to the LORD God.
Are you looking for a fresh start? If you're feeling lost and unsure of what's next for you, consider first putting your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as a taste of honey reveals its sweetness, you'll need to experience God's saving grace for yourself. Step out by faith and receive the free gift of salvation. Here is more information concerning how to be saved: fbcministry.com/gospel.
If you are already saved but seeking change, remember that you, too, can come to the LORD. Faith is the bridge to a fresh start, while unbelief is the worn pathway back to your old life.
Now is the time to come by faith.
Practical Takeaways:
Naaman experienced a fresh start through faith in God's promises and obedience to His command.
Naaman's surrender required sacrifice and eventually brought personal change.
Your fresh start begins with faith in Jesus Christ. (Phil 4:13)
Your fresh start continues with faith in God's promises and obedience to His word. (Ps 119:105)
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