Evel Knievel Faith

Evel Knievel.

The name often brings various connotations to mind of a stuntman jumping high and far through the air over buses, obstacles, and of course his famously failed attempt over the Snake River Canyon.

Evel Knievel was truly a man who knew how to live his life thrill to thrill, experience and experience.

Interestingly enough, he is also a man characterized by his many injuries. During his lifetime, Knievel suffered 433 bone fractures and a spot in the Guinness Book of World Record as the survivor of “most bones broken in a lifetime.” He was a larger-than-life entertainer who thrived off the thrill of risky motorcycle acrobatics.

As much as I love watching these stunts, there is a reason that I mention this real-life legend of a man.

In my short lifetime, I have found that it is often way more enticing to take the Evel Knievel model of faith than to live in the joy and peace that God offers. This model of life often makes the Christian live revival service to revival service, Sunday to Sunday, worship concert to worship concert, with the time in between confused and asking questions such as, “Where is God?” or “Why don’t I feel God like I used to?”

There came a point in my personal life where I had to come to understand that our relationship with Christ and the salvation He offers is not based upon my feelings, but rather my position. Let me explain.

When we first believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was revealed by the revelation of Jesus to the Apostle Paul (Galatians 1:11-12), something rather marvelous occurs. At this point, we have a position change.

We are placed and sealed by the Spirit in Christ Jesus and He in us. This is affirmed in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where it can be read, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Likewise, Galatians 2:20 tells the Christian that as we are in Him, He abides in us. Paul states, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

We are no longer in the position of the Israelites who relied on continuous sacrifices and the Spirit does not waver within the Christian.

It does not come and go, it does not need a prayer asking Jesus to show up, and Jesus is not found in an experience. His power is manifested in His Gospel, and He resides in the soul of each and every believer.

Let this be encouragement as you move throughout your days. Be encouraged that in your ups and your downs, in your excitement and boredom, in your peace and your anxiousness, that God is with you.

You do not need an exciting experience to ascertain God or an Evel Knievel faith. The Lord is with you.