SHOW YOUR WORK!

We live in a time of lazy believers. The type to whom James would say “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19). I think my old math teachers would put it this way: “You’ve found the answers? Good! Show your work!” This belief James addresses is a mere acknowledgement of Christ, but with no substance. Jesus Himself said we would know a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:20), and that the Father desires that we bear much fruit (John 15:8). Nowadays, though, people just want to show up to Church on a Sunday, say a prayer, give a few acknowledgements, but not really do anything with their faith. This faith makes Jesus a self-help guru, or a life coach instead of the Lord and Master of all things, including our own lives. It’s dead. And why? I think the answer is found in Revelation 3, during one of Jesus’ letters to the 7 Churches, in specific, the church at Laodicea.

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 3:14-22)

Many modern church-goers trust more in their successes than they do the God of the Universe. We trust more in politics and media sources than we do the Word of God and the Holy Spirit! What drives us is not a desire to see God’s Kingdom come or His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, rather it is a desire to get what we can before we leave this place. What would Jesus say to us, if He wrote us a letter? I wonder if He would say mere acknowledgement is not real belief! Saying a prayer is not faith! Faith is active, and the Word and the Holy Spirit work it out within us so that God may receive all glory through us! Abraham believed God: he heard God’s word and did what He said! He acted upon God’s word, believing God would do all He said He would do, and it was credited to him as righteousness before the Law was ever established in stone!

Please don’t mistake me: we are saved by what Christ did on the cross, but there SHOULD be evidence of His work in us! So how is YOUR faith? Where is the evidence of Christ’s work in your life? Are you merely acknowledging Christ, as the demons who do and tremble, or is the Word of the Lord by the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus transforming you and giving you victory over sin and death? We can’t merely acknowledge Christ. We must surrender to Him, and trust Him with all that we are, obeying Him, not to be saved, but BECAUSE we are saved, living our lives for Him in gratitude and love.

James 2:14-26

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.