Once in a blue moon I may return home from a trip to the grocery store and find that one of the products I had purchased had been violated. Many products have a seal, a security seal, that offers protection and assurance to the purchaser that what is being purchased is right. It’s just as it was intended. It also comes with a warning that may declare something like this:
“Do not consume if seal is broken.” “Sealed for your protection.” “Warranty void if seal is broken.” “If seal is broken, check contents before accepting.”
The seal on the product ensures our safety and protection from all that would harm us. We find it on food, medicine, and a variety of products. One thing is for sure, a seal is a good thing.
After Jesus had finished feeding the five thousand in John 6, crowds began to follow Him. Jesus knew they did not follow Him because of the miracle, but because they wanted more food. They couldn’t care less about His character, His being, His divinity, or His mission. He gave them food so they were going to ride that horse as long as they could.
After Jesus brought to light the motives only known by them, Jesus offered a statement that baffled.
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed this seal of approval.” Then they asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29)
It sounds too simple. Believe in the one he has sent. That’s it? Believe? That’s all I have to do?
Not exactly.
With authentic belief comes genuine trust. If we believe in Jesus, recipient of the seal, then we must also trust Jesus, the receiver of the seal. This means when there is no bread, we trust the Jesus. When we can’t see the next step, we trust Jesus. When we don’t know where the next dollar is coming from, we trust Jesus. Why?
The seal. What it represents and who it came from.
The seal placed on Jesus declares that He is trustworthy. The seal placed on Jesus promises that He is truth. The seal placed on Jesus offers protection. The seal placed on Jesus validates His every word and every action. We can so quickly accept the seal on a bottle of aspirin or on a bottle of soda. May we also quickly and readily accept the seal of approval that leads to us to everlasting.
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