As I lay the Foundation and unite with Him by faith, I also need to understand that not all faith is the same. When I hear someone declare that he is a believer, I try to learn what that person believes, what his faith is based on, what he feeds his spiritual nature, and how he lives out his faith. By observing people, one can very quickly discern the level and stage of their faith—or the ignorance underlying their unbelief. It is remarkable when atheists call themselves followers of God, adorn themselves or their homes with religious symbols, tattoo signs or scenes from their religion on their bodies, strictly observe traditions, yet give no thought to what they actually believe. When the water of life is offered to such people, they often respond that their ancestors believed this way, their entire family believes this way, and they cannot betray them by changing their religion.
I think you have met people like this. It is very difficult to call them unbelievers. They may be deeply religious, strictly observing the traditions and rules they know, meticulously ensuring that their rituals are performed correctly and that the identifying signs of their faith are properly displayed. Love does not judge people for their sincerity; it respects their choice, their family ties, and their faith. But love always has something better. It simply begins to love these people regardless of their understanding and worldview. Through its attitude, love reveals the true character of the living God, Who does not change, yet has His own laws, holy days, plans, and expectations. In His longsuffering, God allows people to walk in their own ways, in the darkness of their own understanding, while still desiring to illuminate the life of everyone who begins to question whether he is living rightly.
‘And knew not’ is the description Jesus gave of our time and of those who would be living in the last days. It would be wrong to say that we do not think at all or that we have no intelligence. We are all sufficiently educated and have been taught in school to reason, analyze, undertake projects, and invent things. But God wants to see how we think about our salvation and how we seek Eternal Truth and the True Foundation.
We have learned how to build on sand. The tallest building in the world, located in Dubai, was erected as a symbol of human wisdom and courage, and it stands on a foundation in the sand. Beside it lies an entire city whose foundation is former seabed and sand brought up from the bottom of the sea. The designers and builders of this complex deserve recognition, for they approached their task with great wisdom and created a wonder in the desert. But it does not save the soul or bring happiness. Christ’s teaching concerns spiritual truths, the plan of Salvation, and the eternal laws of building. Happiness is not constructed from glass and concrete, and the human soul is not governed by the laws of physics or statistical calculations. God desires to bless us with Heavenly values and does everything possible to bring our hearts onto His Foundation, thereby becoming in each person’s life that strong Foundation of faith which can withstand anything.
Does Satan believe in God? Yes, he does, and the demons also believe and tremble. If their faith were compared with human faith, they would surpass us thousands of times over. They know Who God is. They know how His word accomplishes everything for which it was spoken. They understand the power of grace and of God’s Agape Love. Yet despite all their faith, the demons remain lost for Eternity and drag the whole world into their darkness, while people believe the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms more readily than they believe God.
Believing a lie—this is the true condition of our world, and it has become the foundation of many teachings and movements. What will such faith bring? Death—eternal death.
Faith in lies and error, even when sincere, is the unstable sand beneath the foundation of my happiness and worldview. It will not withstand the trials and will be mercilessly washed away by the powerful waters of God’s judgments.
When the Lord sends me light, the only right response is to accept His truths and walk in them. The faith that truly has value in God’s sight is the complete surrender of my life to Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to work out my salvation within me. In that case, I accept everything God begins to reveal and show me.
Faith without works is dead. Dead faith is a life without God in the heart and without love in the mind, accompanied by loud claims of belonging to some movement or denomination. A name will not save me on the day of trial. Faith without works is not merely idleness or inaction; it is the absence of right motives in everything I do. Works of faith are moved by love, and they fill every undertaking of mine with spiritual meaning that accords with God’s will.
Consider an example. A person is ill and needs financial assistance from people willing to pay for an expensive operation. Two donors come forward. One brings everything he has available for this need and invests all his love and faith in the hope that his gift and prayers will ease the suffering and bring relief to the afflicted soul, even though the amount of his contribution is very small. The other pays all the treatment expenses out of his reserves, thinking that his good deed will surely be recorded in the Heavenly books and recognized in the world as well, bringing him respect and honor. The operation takes place and is successful. Which donor did a good deed? Both of them. But in what spirit? And which of these deeds was truly a God-directed work of faith?
There is a work that the Lord Himself has defined. We read in John 6:28–29: ‘Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.’ This answer was given for all time.
Does this create a vicious circle? Faith without works is dead, while works without faith are empty. But we should not think of it that way.
My faith produces works. God’s love within me performs true and right actions founded upon Christ, His teaching, His law, and His motives. It is not I, but God within me and through me, Who begins to do the works. However small they may appear, they are works of faith. When I allow God’s love to reveal itself in my actions, those actions become right in the Lord’s sight and bear the seal of His approval. My life is filled with happiness because I have allowed God to act through my human resources and to accomplish within me the wonderful changes that form my character for Eternity.
‘I believe’ is that strong bond between the human and the Divine which holds my structure very firmly upon the mightiest Foundation. This is the faith that moves mountains of cares and casts them into the sea. It is the faith that, like a tiny mustard seed, sprouts in my life and becomes the largest garden plant, in whose shade the weary, deceived, disappointed, and burned-out can find shelter. God uses my faith to perform works of love for these souls, giving them hope for a better life, for happiness, and for love. My trust will not save anyone, but it can inspire another person to believe in the One Who truly saves. Without God I can do nothing, and without me God will not perform my works of faith. And without faith, it is impossible to please God by works.
I believe. This is the law of my happiness, which rests upon a solid Foundation and holds very firmly to Him.
Bible verses for this chapter:
1 Corinthians 13:2; Acts 17:30–31; 2 Peter 3:9, 15; Matthew 7:21–23; 8:11–12; 24:39; John 6:28–29; 15:7–8; 16:2–3; James 2:14–26; 2 Timothy 3:5–7; 2 Thessalonians 2:10–13; Romans 4:5; Revelation 22:12