We have discussed in previous post how hope precedes our faith. Today we are going to talk about what faith should precede. Is faith an ends to a mean in itself? Is it enough to have faith? Is faith the goal that God has for us. Is it God's plan that the height of our Spiritual existence would be faith itself? People are so bold and anxious to talk about their beliefs. There have been wars fought over differences of belief. From the day that Martin Luther signed his 95 thesis document and pinned it to the door of the Castle Catholic church on October 31, 1517 there have been fragments of beliefs and doctrines and denomination each with their own view points on faith.
Should our faith be the end of our Spiritual journey? Our faith is very important. We are told in the book of Timothy to;
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
It is important to know what you believe as the basis and the thesis of your faith, but relationship with God does not end with what you believe. It is very important what we believe because our faith springs up out of our doctrine. But, is learning our belief, our doctrine, our faith the end of the spiritual journey? Does something come after faith?
In the Bible, faith was always followed by action. When we do not follow our faith we actions, our faith is not a living faith, but it is a dead faith. We see many people today that have faith, but it is a dead faith! When we do not have action following our faith, our faith is dead.
James 2: 14-26 What
does it profit, my brethren, though a man says he has faith, and has not works?
can faith save him? If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And
one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; yet you give
them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it
profit? Even
so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea,
a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your
works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You
believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and
tremble. But
will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was
not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son
upon the altar?
See
how faith worked with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And
the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed
unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. You
see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead
also.
Hebrews chapter 11 names some of the old testament heroes, and the actions that they did by faith. By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice; by faith Enoch was translated; by faith Noah built a boat; by faith Abraham left his home to find the promised land; by faith Sara gave birth to a child in her old age. The Scripture goes on to mention the faith of Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Moses and many others. All of them were distinguished because their faith lead them to obedience and action. They had a living faith, and because of that living faith, they pleased God.
When we know what we believe, but do not follow that belief with obedience and action, it is not a living faith. It is a dead faith that does not produce miracles and is not pleasing to God.
Everywhere I go, I see religious people that are ready to expound on their faith and defend it well. When we magnify each jot of the law and wear it like a chain around ourselves and others, we have come under the bondage of death and the law. What we believe is important, but, what we do, and how we live is more important than quarreling over what we believe. All the Scriptures point to Jesus, and Jesus is summed up in one word...love. The Pharisees of Jesus' day wanted to argue over the finer points of the law, but, Jesus came to teach us how to live! Jesus said;
Luke 10:7 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as
yourself.
Does action follow your faith? If Godly actions follows your faith then you are a person that walks in acts of love and acts of kindness towards God and your fellow man. When we get so hung up over what we believe that we argue finer points of the law, we have made our faith our stumbling stone. Faith was meant to be a stepping stone to point us to Jesus, who would teach us to love God and love our neighbor. Our faith was never meant to be religious dogma that we wear like a weight around our necks. Our faith was meant to point us to God, it was not meant to be used as a measuring tool to condemn our fellow man. Faith leads us to love, and love never fails.
