You have often heard it said that “seeing is believing,” but from a biblical point of view it is actually doing that is believing. I am sure you have read Hebrews chapter 11 time and time again and have thought of it as the great faith chapter. Indeed, it is the great faith chapter that has perhaps been too casually looked at and maybe a key detail has been overlooked. In the description ascribed to the various people they are all referenced as “by faith”, but for different reasons. Not once is their faith ever described by something they said or spoke to others, but rather in every case it is for something that they did.
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice …( Hebrews 11:4, NASB) By faith Noah … prepared an ark (verse 7).
By faith Abraham…obeyed by going out to a place (verse 8).
By faith Moses …choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God (verse 24-25) By faith he left Egypt (verse 27). By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days (verse 30).
We are reminded by Paul and James to be doers of the word and not just merely hearers.
For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified (Romans 2:13).
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves (James 1:22).
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17).
At Karns we have many tasks before us which need help from each and every one to accomplish. We have planned for them, talked about them, but now is the time that we cease from all the talk and get busy doing. Let’s be sure that others can see our belief by observing our doing.
For the elders, Gregg Woodall