Your Gut or God?

In my mind, one of the most cringeworthy words of priestly advice on the silver screen were spoken in the D.C. movie Superman when Henry Cavill entered a church.  As Clark Kent wrestled with the idea of turning himself in to an alien invader to save the earth--knowing both General Zod and mankind were untrustworthy--the priest, identified by his white collar, asked:  "What does your gut tell you?"  From a biblical perspective, that question is entirely out of left field.  What good is a gut feeling when we can turn to God's word, considering the God's truth, goodness His personal guidance already established?

The priest doubled-down on strange advice as the budding superhero and future household-name walked from the room:  "Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith first...the trust part comes later."  Again, this advice was more whimsical than wise.  Never in the brief conversation was there any inkling to place faith in God, and that faith is trust marked by obedience to God.  It seems this "leap of faith" to the priest was a blind leap and simply wishing for the best, and that Clark was best served to go with his gut, rely on himself or others.  With God completely out of the picture (as D.C. comics have no place in its universe for the real God--preferring idols who wear tights and have a weakness), perhaps that is the best anyone can hope for.  This provides no hope for humanity unless you possess superhuman abilities and are a mild-mannered, nice guy.

The God who created the heavens, earth and all living things provides genuine hope in this life even when everything is out of our control.  To follow Jesus is no leap of faith, for He calls all to follow Him in the Bible and find rest for our souls.  Having been born again by trust in Him, our feet are shod with the Gospel of peace and have been made to stand on the reality of the God-Man Jesus Christ:  His coming, death, resurrection and ascension.  No priest, nun, prophet, apostle or martyr ever died for the sake of others and rose from the dead as he or she predicted three days later, and in doing so Jesus proved He has all God's authority and can give eternal life to all who trust in Him.  If Jesus did not rise from the dead after being crucified and buried in a tomb, it would be a leap of faith to follow Him--and there would be no one who survived the jump and landed in heaven.  Faith in Christ comes first, and our trust in demonstrated by obedience to Him.

I read an article recently by a professing atheist who said at a low point a priest "helped restore faith in herself."  Unlike the headline suggests, it was evident the priest intended to glorify Jesus.  Unlike the advice given by the priest in the film, the priest shared the teaching of Jesus Christ with his desire the inmate would trust Him.  Without faith in Jesus as God and Saviour, it seems the Gospel was reduced to a self-help mental exercise that missed the heart transformation, forgiveness and salvation God offers by His grace.  Being born again is infinitely more than blind faith, for Jesus opens the eyes of the blind and is trustworthy.  It is not our gut but God who has spoken in John 1:11-13:  "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  God has revealed His will for humanity, and He gives each of us the opportunity to answer the question:  will you trust Jesus?