Show Me
As we continue through life, there are often things which we are told, that are hard to believe. Many a person has commented: “I’ll believe it when I see it”. Showing someone is the means for providing the proof of a claim of that which has been accomplished, a “scientific fact”, or something of that sort. If the proof can be produced, the claim can be verified.
Those from Missouri take pride in the state’s unofficial nickname of: “The Show Me State”. I have heard a number of people, some definitely not from Missouri, say: “I’m from Missouri, show me”. I suspect many, with the exception of some Missourians are unaware of the origin of that nickname. It seems to have its origins in an 1899 speech in Philadelphia, by Missouri's U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver. In that speech he said: "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me. " That phrase is now used to describe the character of Missourians; not gullible, but conservative, and unwilling to believe without adequate evidence. More folks need to be this way!
It is amazing to me that many folks want to “toe the line” in many areas, and demand proof to follow, yet are quickly willing to “fall in line” with the whims of many religious leaders who spew forth all sorts of denominational doctrine. 2Peter 2:1-2 provides inspired warning about such leaders and those who will follow them. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. False teaching of any description does not lead to Salvation, but directs those who espouse it and those who follow it toward destruction.
In the KJV Bible you cannot find the phrase “show me” as the word for show in the KJV Bible is “shew”. Even in the Old Testament we can find the phrase “shew me” several times. In Psalm 16:11 the Spirit had the psalmist pen the Words we find which indicate the desire to be directed in the ways of God. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. In Psalm 25:1-6 we read the Words the Spirit gave David, which shows that salvation can only come from the Lord and His Word. These verses also show that God always has mercy and loving kindness to those who seek Him. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
Why would one NOT want “proof” from the Bible for that which they believe and follow? Should we not take the position: “Show it to me in the Bible”, or more correctly, since we live in the N.T. age; “show it to me in the New Testament?” It is only in the New Testament age, where Salvation is offered to humanity, after our Lord died on the cross, was raised from the dead, ascended back to the Holy Father, and sent the saving gospel message to the Apostles by the Holy Spirit as promised. That gospel message is now available and one who is a Christian should be able to show others this in the Word of God as well as by the lives they live before mankind.
The only two records of Jesus saying: “shew me” while He was on earth were in reference to the tax, or tribute money are found in Matthew 22:9 ff, and in Luke 20:22-25 in which He explained we are yield to each authority as is applicable. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? 24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. 25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
How are we to know what to “render” to God, except by being shown? It is not up to man to determine this as Jeremiah 10:23 informs. O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Therefore, we must turn to God’s Word to be shown. The way of Salvation can be shown through the gospel. In Romans 1:16, the apostle Paul was directed of the Spirt to write: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (the gospel) is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
That gospel which the Spirit brought, and which will not and hasn’t ever changed is how we can “shew” others of the hope in Christ as 1Peter 3:15 tells us. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Let us “show you” in accordance to God’s Word how to access the saving blood of Christ in obedience, so you too can know that you have that hope for eternal life with God.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
