Believe then Achieve

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22 NIV)

After Pentecost, the early church enjoyed the benefits of fellowship and the apostles’ teaching. But their comfort was ended by persecution. Where believers were scattered , the Gospel of Christ went with them. It became the Good News not just for the Jews, but for the nations.

God wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. A faith that creates doers will endure while faith untested by adversity achieves nothing. (I can hear the objections of pew-sitters to what they term “Works-based Christianity”.) Take it from Scripture. We find in James: “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (2:17)

Recently, I saw a t-shirt with “Believe then Achieve” across the back. Though it was intended to inspire young athletes, I took it as a personal summons for a more serious approach to God. My belief level determines how much of my destiny I will attain.

If I demonstrate belief in God’s Word, then I will please my Lord. The reason the Great Commission isn’t accomplished is that we don’t believe enough. When the Books are opened at the Judgment, what is found will be according to our faith (Hebrews 11:6).

Jesus declared three times in the Bible’s last fifteen verses, “I am coming soon!” If the devil has us so confused that we doubt Our Lord, then how can we reject the world and take action?

Noah believed God. The vine-dresser became a carpenter then got to work. Rescue was achieved for seven in his family.

The wicked in Noah’s day perished because they failed to pay attention to God’s signs. They carried on with business-as-usual right up to the moment the rains came (Luke 17:26-27).

As it was in Noah’s day, so it will be before Christ’s return. Prophecy is written to underscore the Sovereignty of God. At the end of this age, believing in what the Bible says will lead to the salvation of many saints.

If our belief is Bible-centered, unshakable and accompanied by a willingness to sacrifice, then nothing will be impossible.

On the other side, if our belief falls short, so will our achievement. Then…

…how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? (Hebrews 2:3 NIV)