September 11
“Without faith it is impossible to please (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him,” Hebrews 11:6.
On the civic calendar, this date is given special recognition. It is known as 9/11, the date on which we remember the killing of over 3,000 Americans by Islamic suicide terrorists in 2001 with hijacked airliners at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon just outside Washington D.C, and in a field in Pennsylvania. The news media will devote most of today to a repeat of what happened or what they think happened.
We have a better way to start the day as we turn our attention to the Word of God.
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews reports that, “Without faith it is impossible to please (God).” This raises the question, “What is really a good work in the sight of God?” A good work in the eyes of God is something that is thought, said, or done by an individual who has saving faith in his or her heart. The person must really believe in the one true, triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who is the only God who exists.
“He who comes to God must believe that He is!” If you want to please God, you must believe that God exists! It is taught in both the Old and New Testament. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Deuteronomy 6:4. “There is no other God but one,” 1 Corinthians 8:4. All unbelievers, including scoffers, atheists, and agnostics, cannot do any good works! Of them, the psalmist wrote, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good,” Psalm 14:1, 53:1.
Two people can do the same thing, and one is doing a good work and the other one is not. As an example, let us say that each of two people gives $100 to the Red Cross. The one gives it out of love for the people who suffered a disaster and out of love and faith in God and faith in the Lord Jesus. The other one gives it for the people who suffered a disaster, but he is primarily giving it for a tax write-off! Actually, he is thinking more of himself than of those who are suffering. The one who was moved by faith and love did a good work and pleased God. The other one did not do a good work in God’s sight.
To do a good work, one must also believe that, “(God) is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Faith and salvation are gifts from God given to those who diligently seek Him – that is, believe that God exists and that He sent His Son to be our Savior. The believer trusts in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, which He gained for all through His suffering and death on Calvary’s cross. Then Jesus rose from the grave and conquered sin, death, and the devil. “(Jesus) was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 4:25, 5:1. Living with the saving faith in our hearts, we think, say, and do things that please God.
“Let us ever walk with Jesus,
Follow His example pure;
Flee the world, which would deceive us,
And to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading,
Body here, yet soul above;
Full of faith and hope and love,
Let us do the Father’s bidding.
Faithful Lord, abide with me;
Savior, lead, I follow Thee.” Amen.