Do You Really Believe?
You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. -- Galatians 5:4-5
She was being sincere. Really. She was. We were talking about Jesus and what it means to be a believer. I mentioned that some people believe they’re saved because they go through the motions -- church, etc. -- but never feel it in their hearts. She argued that it didn’t matter if they were good people.
Oh, but it does. At least, it does if you believe the Bible. And I believe the Bible. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected three days later and now sits at the right hand of God. Faith in Jesus and what He did for us is what matters. Everything else flows from that.
What is so very scary to me is that this woman insists she is a Christian. I’m not sure who she’s trying to convince: herself or those around her. I look at her, listen to her, and I know that something is off. Just not quite right in her heart. How can someone have so much disdain for those around her and still claim to have Jesus in her heart? I don’t think they can.
She’s not a bad person. She does good things for people. That’s what sometimes confuses people about faith. They want to believe that salvation comes through good works but the Bible clearly tells us it doesn’t. Good works comes when Jesus lives in your heart. Can someone who isn’t a believer do good things? Absolutely. Can a Christian do bad things? Without a doubt.
But true faith changes something deep inside of us. It makes a person want to do good. It makes us want to see the good around us, want to do something for those in need. It is possible to do good works without faith but I’m not sure it’s possible to have faith and not do good works.
That’s the puzzle of faith that leads many people in a wrong direction. I’ve never really been able to explain to someone what it feels like to be saved. I know. Feelings seem so wishy-washy at times but feeling is a deep, rooted belief that your life and your world have changed forever. And you do change.
The conversation that prompted my discussion with this woman involved the last days of a man we both held dear. He’d lived his life going to church, to Sunday school, to revivals and such. Yet he’d never really believed in that personal way that invites Jesus into ours hearts. He believed with his head -- maybe. Probably more accurately, he just never questioned what he was told. Much like we don’t question the four seasons or that the sun will rise tomorrow.
But as he lay on that hospital bed, facing an uncertain tomorrow, he had time to question and to seek. Fortunately, he also had someone willing to answer his questions and help him to pray for Jesus to be his Lord and Savior.
What about you? Are you still trying to earn salvation? Are you still trying to stay in control and keep Jesus at a distance, all the while claiming his promise? It won’t work you know. Sooner or later you come face to face with the very real truth that this life doesn’t go on forever. There’s one way to eternal salvation. His name is Jesus. The ticket home is free. All that you have to do is believe in Him with all your mind, you heart, your soul and your strength.
No comments:
Post a Comment