Faith is more than a fire-escape

In a recent conversation, a man talked about the people he works with, “They are religious, and they go to church every Sunday, even every Saturday too, but that does not match the way they live.”

Today’s devotional reading calls me to think about this again. The reading says that religion is not a fire-escape that you build in anticipation of a possible danger only to leave it outside the house until danger comes. The problem with doing this is that when a fire breaks out, that neglected escape route is not what you hoped. It is rusty and broken, weather-beaten and useless. This is a picture of those who build a surface appearance of faith for some future day they might need it, thinking that makes them safe. 

However, as the reading says, religion is not something to add on to our lives. Instead, it is the house in which we live, even the table where we sit, the fireside that warms us, the room that arches its familiar presence over us. It is our bed where we rest and think of the past, and anticipate the future, and become refreshed.

The difference between fire-escape faith and a faith that is lived in (and lived out) is hinted at in this verse used in the devotional reading…

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)

Paul is talking about genuine believers who have understood the riches of glory, a mystery that was once unclear but has been revealed to them. This mystery is this: Christ lives in those who believe. He not only gives His people hope concerning glory, but He changes our lives, giving us power to make known or broadcast or reveal to others the reality of true faith. 

That is, unless Christ lives in me, no matter how ‘religious’ I may act, the glory of God is not revealed in my life or by my life. Without Him, I can do nothing. In Him and because of Him, my life says something about the sure promises of God and the hope of glory.

Imagine the difference made in the world because the disciples of Christ followed Him, doing what He told them and letting their faith be seen in every part of their lives. Here is a very short list.

Power over evil spirits and able to heal the sick. “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. (Matthew 10:1) And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay” (Matthew 10:7–8).

Wisdom and endurance in opposition. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16) …and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (Matthew 10:22–23) And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household (Matthew 10:36). 

Boldness to share Christ with others. “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. (Matthew 10:27) So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven…” (Matthew 10:32).

None of these are ‘Sunday only’ activities. They are part of life, which makes faith practical, not fanatical. It means letting the Christ who lives in me be seen wherever I am and in whatever I am doing. 

Actually, His life is so powerful that hiding it is impossible. Sadly, what can happen and often does, is claiming to have ‘religion’ without having Jesus.

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Oh God, the religious people of this world who have no relationship with You also have no hope of glory. This puzzles some, like that man we talked to this week. So many become disillusioned, not knowing the difference between those who claim to be Christian and those in whom You have made Your dwelling place. It would be easy to blame the ‘merely religious’ for this confusion, but Your Spirit tells me that genuine believers bear the greater responsibility. We are supposed to live like You have commanded, not making claims without backing them up. My faith is supposed to permeate all of life, starting in my heart, my home and radiating through every part, not for my sake but to reveal that great gift from You  --- the hope of glory!

To Live is Christ — choosing God’s will over mine

Routine is important to me. Without it, distractions take me away from the important responsibilities. I’d never wash windows or weed my garden without a schedule of some sort. Weekends and vacations are difficult because routine slides and life becomes unpredictable. I reason that this is the way my brain is wired, yet know it could also be a control thing. This makes me wonder just how much I try to control and how much I am really trusting God concerning all the interruptions and disruptions of life.

Again, I’m drawn to these words from Paul. His life was in constant flux. He made no plans of his own, instead followed the daily leading of the Holy Spirit, and making choices that complied with the ministry God had given him. No matter what life threw at him, he did not veer from his goal.

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

Since then, there have been Christian leaders with the same sense of purpose and the same ability to focus. However, there are thousands more like me, who struggle with having an overall goal that keeps us on target. Maybe Paul knew that those who came later would not be as able to stick to it the same way he did. He went on to say that those he had preached to would not see him again, therefore, 

Take heed to yourselves. . . . For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:28-31)

If the enemy uses false teachers to pull people away, he certainly uses false ideas and thoughts for the same reason. Several important commands come to mind, and with them the struggles that I have to stay on track.

The big one is loving God with all my heart. I can feel as if I do, but loving Him boils down to obedience. Every time that I fail to do His will, I go off track concerning this main life purpose. Instead of running the race with joy, I’m wallowing on the sidelines.

Another big one is loving others as I love myself. I think I’m really important, otherwise I wouldn’t give myself so much attention or want so much for myself. That is how I’m supposed to love others (self love is assumed in this command), but do I? Do I even have to answer that question?

Several more Bible words come to mind besides love and obedience: persistence, patience, faith, goodness, meekness, worship. My track record isn’t anything like it could be or should be.

Sometimes I say, “Lord, I cannot do this. You are the Savior and I need saving.” Yet is that passing the buck instead of making good choice? Can I choose to serve others or choose to serve me? Can I choose to obey God or choose to do my own thing? God has given me a new nature governed by the Holy Spirit. Can I choose life in the power of God or life according to the disposition of my old sin nature?

I know the answer. It is explained well by Oswald Chambers in A Series of Talks on the Ethical Principles of the Christian Life. He says people are free to choose in that no one can convince me against my will. However, there is more to it. He goes on: 

Only God could exercise constraint over a man which would compel him to do what in the moment of doing it is not his own will; but that God steadily refuses to do. The reason man is not free is that within his personality there is a disposition which has been allowed to enslave his will, the disposition of sin. Man’s destiny is determined by his disposition; he cannot alter his disposition, but he can choose to let God alter it. Jesus said, “Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin”; but He also said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:34, 36) i.e. free in essence. We are only free when the Son sets us free; but we are free to choose whether or not we will be made free. In the experience of regeneration a man takes the step of choosing to let God alter his disposition. When the Holy Spirit comes into a man, He brings His own generating will power and makes a man free in will. Will simply means the whole nature active, and when the Holy Spirit comes in and energizes a man’s will, he is able to do what he never could do before, namely, he is able to do God’s will.

The Bible puts it simply: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13).

In other words, because of Jesus in my life, to plead helplessness and say that I have no power to obey Him is a lie, a false notion from a savage wolf perhaps, but whatever its source, it is not from God and I need to quit listening to it. Jesus lives in me; I have His power and whenever I ask Him, He will give it to me.