Useless Faith

Ever notice how much further this world goes towards the “if I can’t see it, hear it or touch it, it doesn’t exist” mindset each and every day. From current scientific theories to modern cultural mindsets, faith is under attack on every level every moment of every day. If you don’t believe me, try telling a co-worker or acquaintance who doesn’t go to church that Jesus walked out of his tomb, the mortal wound that ended his life still gaping in his side, and lived once more. Odds are, they’ll either laugh at you, or simply avoid you for being some “religious nutjob”. And, the evil one laughs…

1 Corinthians 15
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

The very idea that anyone we’ve lived with, who has since died could rise up from the grave and walk among us is pretty crazy by today’s standards. Imagine a family member you lost, alive once more. A friend who left this world long ago, restored to the flesh. Maybe even a spouse or child, walking among us as if death held no sway in their lives. Sounds pretty impossible, doesn’t it?

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

Useless faith? Well, for me at least, that’s unacceptable. The world tells us resurrection is impossible and we’re mentally defective for even believing it happened once. Surely, no intelligent, modern person, cable of advanced cognitive thought and filled with modern sensibilities could possibly believe a dead person can come back to life.

16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Futile faith? Still lost in our sin? Personally, I’ll take the derision of worldy thinkers any day over the alternative, which is a useless, futile faith that leaves us immersed in the condemnation of our own sin.

18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

This last verse is the real kicker. Think about it for a minute. What if the hope we have in Christ is only for this life, this world, this sad, broken world. How depressing! And, what if all those we’ve known and loved, who are now “asleep in Christ” waiting for the awakening in rapture are lost forever. What a truly morose notion.

Thankfully, Jesus saves us from that. He fought the battle on our behalf and won. He came, lived, died and rose again, so that our faith was not rendered useless, but perfect in His plan. How awesome is that!

Father God,
While this world may find your ways unfathomable, we know you have a plan for everything, a perfect plan at that.

Thank you for saving us from ourselves, our sin, our destructive nature.

Please remind us daily of how short we fall on our own and how far we can go if we rely on you.

Whisper to us, instruct us in Your will, so that we may become the light in this world you designed us to be.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.