Don't Rush to Comfort
Everyone says they have faith, but is it saving faith? Is your faith the kind that gains you access to heaven? Is there another kind of faith that doesn’t? Look what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:
Now I would remind you, brothers,[a] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
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Paul says that there is a belief that is in vain. A faith that doesn’t save. So, how can I know if my faith saves. How can I know that I don’t believe in vain?
To understand, we should look at what strengthens faith and causes us to endure even to heaven/salvation. We’ll start at James 1:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Did you catch that? The best friend of our faith is actually the very thing we try and escape continually. It’s the thing we avoid at almost any cost. We so frequently run from the very thing that strengthens our faith and keeps us standing firm and enduring to the end.
James says that our trials are actually the thing we should be joyful to encounter, because we know they strengthen our faith! Faith’s best friend is trouble! Our faith is strengthened so that we would endure unto to the end proving that our faith is, in fact, not in vain!!
Look as James continues to show how these trials join alongside our faith to bring about our assurance and place in the kingdom:
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
So, now, as we endure and encounter trials, we can exclaim, ”Praise God!” as we are aware of his provision to strengthen our faith! The best friend of your faith is the trouble that comes!
It makes sense now why so many people struggle with addiction. Why so many are continually ensnared by pornography or drinking, money or relationships that are unhealthy; they are so quick to rush to comfort. This actually is working against their faith and could prove to show them to have faith that does not endure, as is mentioned in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.
Now the question is, what kind of faith do you have?
Is it a faith that wavers in trial or one that rests in Christ and endures?
Does your faith crumble with your circumstance?
Are you driven by your emotions and not by the truth of the word of God?
Are someone who rushes to comfort, crippling trouble’s reward?
You may have a faith that is choked out by the cares of the world.
Here is the invitation from 1 Peter 1:10-11:
10 Therefore, brothers,[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.