Based on Luke 11:29-30, 32 (New King James Version)
“And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, ‘This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation…’ ‘…The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.’”
The vast majority of people invent many things to justify their disbelief, to be able to say that they cannot believe in God, and that they are right in not being able to believe. Some, for example, make the excuse that God has to do something supernatural for them so that they can actually believe. This is the sign the Lord spoke of in this passage. Others think that if they can't see God, then they can't believe in Him. Others doubt His Word, and think that it's just a book written by different people with a lot of creativity, and that's why they can't come to believe it. In short, the vast majority of people invent a lot in order to justify their disbelief.
I can say very confidently that they are mere excuses, and nothing more, because we all have the ability to have faith, to be able to believe in things that we do not see, and at every moment we exercise that faith, even from the youngest to the most incredulous people. There are many who risk even their lives daily by having faith in things that they do not even understand how they work. We can see very clear examples daily of how they exercise this ability of faith. For example, does a child hesitate when taking his first steps, when they try to do something that they do not even understand intellectually? Another example is related to those of us who work. We wake up on the days we have to work with the idea that we will receive payment for our work, right? But, while we work, are we seeing our boss or supervisor with our money in their hands while we work? I really doubt it. But all of us who work labor because we have the faith that when the time comes to pay us that we will see a check, or we will be given some cash, or as very commonly happens today, we receive a direct deposit in our bank account. Would we work if we lost trust or faith that we would be paid for our efforts? I really doubt it. And what else can we talk about since everything requires some kind of faith? Do you know what they did with your food before eating it? No, but you even eat it without asking anything. Were you in the pharmaceutical laboratory when they produced the pills you take for headaches? No, but when you have a headache, you just buy them and take them, right? When people travel by plane, do they first take aviation classes or do they go to college for several years to understand the engineering that makes it possible to fly a jet from one place to another with hundreds of people on board, and many suitcases? No, right? But, nevertheless, they travel great distances, over land, sea, and even mountains without having any idea of how things work, and with the certainty that they will reach their destination. That is faith.
Let's look at the example that the Lord Himself gave in the passage we read. The Lord spoke of the prophet Jonah and the Ninevites. And if you remember the story, the prophet Jonah was the one who was inside a big fish for three days because he did not want to obey God, and go preach to the Ninevites that they were going to be destroyed. Let's look at this in more detail. What was the message that Jonah preached in Nineveh? This is what the Word says: “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” Jonah 3:4. This was God's entire message to Nineveh through Jonah. There was no dissertation on what creation was like, no mention of the law of Moses, no explanation of morality, did not even mention that he was inside a large fish. He did not show them a degree from the great seminary in Jerusalem where the most illustrious prophets are trained (there was no such thing, just in case). He didn't even mention God in these simple and few words. This was the entire message: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And keep in mind that Nineveh was the center of the Assyrian empire, the enemy kingdom of Israel. So, what did they have to do with this prophet of Israel? But, nevertheless, all of Nineveh, the center of the Assyrian empire, not only heard, but believed the message, and the king ordered everyone to repent to see if God would turn from his wrath. This is what the Word says: “Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, ‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?’” Jonah 3:6-9. Those of Nineveh had faith, and such faith, in spite of their evil ways and great sins, that God did exist, as it says: “So the people of Nineveh believed God…”, and that He was sovereign and powerful to bring judgment upon them, and their faith extended to the point that they believed that they could touch the heart of God with their repentance. And so it was, as it is written: “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” Jonah 3:10.
Now, and having seen the great example of Nineveh, do you understand why there would be even greater judgment on those the Lord spoke to, and on us? The Lord did great and incredible works, and He had no need to prove anything else to anyone. There was no need to do signs, just like now. God does not have to do absolutely anything else because He has given us much more than what we need to be able to believe and follow Him as such. The problem is not the lack of faith as we have already shown, because each person has the capacity for faith, but the simple and great problem is that people refuse to believe, which is something very different, and totally punishable before God. Make up whatever excuse you want for not wanting to believe, it's worthless. The Word says this same thing, which helped Nineveh believe and it is also more than enough for man to believe today: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:18-20. And the Word says this also: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36. If a person truly believes in the Lord, they will do what He says, because many say they believe, but do not do what the Lord commands, beginning with complete repentance, like those of Nineveh did. And not only do we now have creation as a sign that God is God, but the death and resurrection of the Lord as the greatest sign not only of His power, but also, of His love. There is simply no excuse for not being able to believe and obey. So, do you really believe and obey the Lord for salvation, or do you still refuse to believe properly? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel.