When it comes to living a life of faith how does it work, this thing called faith. What does it feel like? How does it act? What does it do? How do you know the difference between somebody who’s living a life of faith and someone who is not?

There are a lot of people who have strong beliefs in God, the Bible, about Christ. They can recite creeds to you and catechisms and talk about doctrines of the Trinity, quote bible verses. James says, “big deal!” Just saying I believe in God is not enough to get you to heaven. Even the devil believes that. The Bible says in Proverbs, “The fool has said in his heart, there is not God.” It’s foolish to be an atheist and the devil is no fool. The devil believes in God! The devil is a great theologian. He knows a lot more about the Bible than you do. He’s been around a whole lot longer. He knows theology backwards and forwards. He believes. His demons believe and shudder. The Greek word is “to bristle” — their hair stands up on end. It’s the kind of word you’d use reading a Steven King novel. Why? Because the devils understand the majesty and awesomeness of God. They believe in God and they tremble.

The word believe in Greek means “to trust in, to cling to, to rely on, to commit yourself completely.” A lot of folks are going to miss heaven by 18 inches. They’ve got it in their head but not their heart. They say “I believe in God.” James says, “Big deal. Everybody believes in God. How do you have a creation without a Creator? But that’s not enough.”

Real faith is not just saying “I believe”. There is so much easy believism in America. If it’s not just something you say or think or feel or believe, what is real faith?

Our faith is not determined by what we do, it is demonstrated by what we do. In a very real sense that’s what God says to you. Talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. “I believe in Jesus!” Prove it. Our faith is demonstrated by our actions. Actions speak louder than words. Our behavior shows what we really believe.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” Test. Check it out. See if you’re really a believer or not.

If you do not take that risk of faith, what are you going to be giving up? If you don’t take that risk of faith, what love from God are you giving up? What security and peace in your heart are you giving up? What adventure that God wants to take you on, satisfaction in life, are you giving up? If you don’t take that risk of faith, what joy are you giving up in your life?

I’m certainly not a perfect person. I struggle to have faith each day just like you struggle. But as I look back over my life I think if I hadn’t taken even those small risks of faith that God challenged in my life, what could I have given up? I wouldn’t have the wife that I have, the family that I have – the relationship we have. It’s not perfect but I wouldn’t have the joy that is there. I wouldn’t have the growth, the changes that I see in my life. They’re not perfect but there has been some growth. I wouldn’t be standing here right now looking at you enjoying what God’s doing in all of our lives. None of that would be a part of my life.