Faith in Action

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”—James 2:14

Faith is never static, but always active. If I believe something, I’m going to act on it. Faith that does not act is not faith, but a figment of one’s imagination. It is merely verbal assent to a spiritual activity without a spiritual or physical response. Faith, by nature, is active. The Bible defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”—Hebrews 11:1. And while such a definition does not appear to describe an activity, the author then proceeds to describe the faith of a variety of Old Testament saints. In his description, faith is always seen by what it does.

Consider the different acts of faith person by person in Hebrews 11. Abel was commended for his faith because he offered up a more acceptable sacrifice (v. 4). Enoch was taken up because he lived a life pleasing to God (v. 6). Noah was commended because he constructed an ark in response to God’s warning of impending judgment (v. 7). Abraham obeyed God by leaving his homeland to go to a place God would show him (v. 8). He lived in tents in the land of promise, because he was looking forward to the city of God (v. 10). Sarah received power to conceive because she believed God was faithful in fulfilling His promises (v. 11). Abraham offered up Isaac as a sacrifice because he believed God could raise him from the dead (v. 20). As he was dying, Jacob blessed his sons, because he believed God would fulfill His promises through them (v. 21). At the end of Joseph’s life, he gave instructions to the Israelites regarding his bones because he believed God would deliver his people from Egypt (v. 22). Moses’ parents hid him away because they feared God more than man (v. 23). When Moses grew up, he refused to be called Pharaoh’s grandson and chose to be mistreated with the Israelites because he considered the“reproach of Christ better than the treasures of Egypt” (v. 26). It was by faith that he left Egypt, kept Passover and sprinkled blood on the doorposts. It was by faith that the people crossed the Red Sea in the Exodus, and it was by faith that the Israelites circled the walls of Jericho and blew the trumpets, knowing the walls would fall down (v. 30). It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute helped the Jewish spies (v. 31), and it was by faith that individuals:

“…conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.  Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth”—Hebrews 11:33-38.

Notice that in every instance faith is followed by action. If one believes, one acts. And all of them acted on their belief—Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, Rahab, and a host of others all responded in action to what they believed.

The question we must ask ourselves is this: how does my faith act? What does it look like? If I say that I believe Jesus was crucified for my sins, died, was buried, and rose from the dead, and then ascended into heaven where He awaits the day of the consummation of His reign, then how does my life look in the here and now? Does my life reflect my belief? Can Christ be seen in my bank account? My priorities? My calendar? My habits? My hobbies? If we believe in Christ, then our lives will show it. So, how does your life look? Amen.