“Faith at Work”

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Last week’s text was the beginning of this week’s lesson, with the offer of this thought: that if we follow the ways of Jesus Christ, and refuse to distort or otherwise change his word, glory will bring a revealing light into our lives and that divine light will dispel the world’s darkness that is constantly trying to envelop us.

Today’s word begins to address the value and importance of true faith. It is essential to our faith to understand that the truth of God is only revealed by the insight that comes from the study and acceptance of Christ’s teaching. Paul’s writing, we will see, lifts up the power that comes to our lives when we allow the fullness of God’s truth to work within us.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:13-15

This letter couldn’t have been very easy to write, and even more painful to read. And this after sending them his first letter that had addressed issues that the faithful were experiencing while living in a corrupt and very worldly society, in which he had offered corrective teaching to bring them back into line with Christ’s word. As we delve into this latter letter, it becomes evident that even though some may have taken his advice to heart, others were still bent on living in the pleasures of earth. And that applies to the Church of today, too.

This passage begins with the words “I believed: therefore I have spoken.” Paul’s confidence, his conviction, his faith is grounded in believing in all that Jesus had told him, and never again to trust in his own self-confidence and personal understanding. And from these words, we can conclude that he hesitates to teach or correct anything before he has received the truth of God through the leading of the Holy Spirit. To believe, to receive the word of God before we speak or act is pretty sound advice for our own lives, and I say this in particular to me and all pastors!
And why would this be so important for us and our Christian faith? When we give up our life and ways in favor of the ones that Jesus has prepared for us, we no longer can afford to think and speak and live as the world inspired us to in years past. That doesn’t mean that the people of darkness will give up badgering us to exchange the Lord’s truth for their lies, because they will never give up trying! But even while the world will continue to lead us astray, the Spirit of Light will continue to encourage us in the Lord’s truth, reminding us of Jesus’ words – words like “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” (John 14:6-7), and they will sustain us even while the spirit of darkness tries to dissuade us from listening and believing.

This power of faith will bring the right words to our hearts and minds, and this power of righteousness is the same power that has raised Christ from the clutches of darkness, the same darkness that permeates the tomb of death that is reserved for each of us. And Paul continues within the same sentence to proclaim the fullness of that power – that while it raised Christ into new life, it will also raise us into that same life with him. And even more than that, it will bring us into Almighty God’s presence through our fellowship with and through Christ Jesus.

This, for Paul, is the heart of the gospel and it must also be the basis for our faith. He lifts this truth up for the enlightenment of the church in Corinth, and for all the churches that ever have, and ever will exist. For him, and for us, this defines the very character of God – that the power that works for the Lord’s good, is the very same power that will work for ours. Faith at work, faith in action, is more than just some high sounding ideal. It’s a promise that when Jesus told us that, by faith, we will do all that he had done, and that we will do even greater things (John 14:12), it is a call that we can believe in and trust in. And I think that these two things – believing in Jesus, and trusting in all that he said - are mutually dependent. Without faith in Christ, we will never trust in those things he has called us to do, and if we don’t trust in his word, we can never truly believe that he is who he is.

And this is the reason that our glorious God is working on our behalf – so that we can trust, and can believe, and can faithfully follow.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

But now Paul reminds us that God’s grace and hope, those great gifts that come to us by faith in Jesus Christ, do not guarantee that the human life that currently holds us with be changed. Pain and struggle and persecution and doubts will continue to plague us. But grace is going to help us endure, and hope is going to show us that the failures of this life are not all that will be – that faith will be our renewing in vision for what awaits us beyond this plain. Don’t despair over the opposition that comes against us, don’t get tired of enduring and waiting for relief – they are all temporary and will end one day. By trusting in the gift of God that comes by faith in Christ, and by following the leading of the Holy Spirit, faith will strengthen us, empower us, enlighten us, revitalize us, and the world will no longer have any power or authority over us.

Paul writes that our outward life – the life that is still captive in the world’s clutches – is, indeed, being worn to a frazzle – there is no question of that. But remember the hymn “Precious Lord”?

“Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand.
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.”

As oppressive and frightening as the storms of this life may seem to be, they are, in truth, but a shallow and momentary blip on the screen of eternity. The apostle tells us that Jesus, and our trust and faith in him, is going to see us through our dark days, and through our weak days, and through our hurting days, and through our wandering days, and through our wondering days. When our faith is where it belongs – firmly in the hand and life of our Precious Lord – those stormy days will pass, and our persistence and certainty in Christ will see us through. And we are told that the light of glory is right there, anxious to receive us, eager to show us, prepared to bless us, able to clear the way for us.

Faith is far more than a simple noun – faith is a verb of action – it is a mighty and moving aspect of God’s presence within us. Faith as a noun is sedate and not so easily experienced. But faith as a risky step that the Spirit of God calls us to take, creates an encounter for us with the Divine Presence of heaven. Faith as a noun can be nearly invisible, but when we allow it to begin to move within us, it becomes obvious to all we touch. Active faith is a dance that we are drawn into, with Jesus leading our every step. And as we continue in our steps of faith, others will begin to dance with us, and soon they will place their hand in the hand of God, and begin their own dance with him.

And as every dancer knows, you keep your focus on your partner, and not so much on the steps you are taking. Faith is a dance that not only never ends, it changes the steps and brings new ones into play as we trust more and more in the One who leads. It moves us in new directions. It celebrates with us throughout the earth. It shares light that dispels the darkness in others. It shares grace that overcomes fear and hatred. It shares hope that gives direction. And it begins to share the vision that God has for us in new and wonderful ways.

It’s hard to see faith, but we can feel faith, and we can live faith, and we can do faith in marvelous and wonderful ways that others will be able to see. And glory surrounds it. Surrender to faith in Jesus Christ, and know the joyful dance of heaven.

"Lord of the Dance"