By F. D. Adkins
In Genesis 6, God warned Noah of the destruction that He was going to bring upon the earth. A boat did not fall from the sky or magically appear for Noah and his family. Noah was instructed to build a boat. God was going to save Noah and his family, but Noah had to take the step of faith. He had to act and follow God’s instructions using the ability God had given him and construct this vessel that would keep him and his family safe during the flood. Noah obeyed and followed God’s detailed instructions, and he and his family survived. Noah had a living faith.
In the same way, God provided an escape for the Israelites when He parted the waters. However, the Israelites had to walk through. They had to act in faith, trusting that God would hold the waters back until they made it to safety. The Israelites walked in faith, crossing on dry ground, and God did not let waters overcome them.
When God destroyed Sodom because of its wickedness, He provided a way out for Lot and his family. They were to leave and not look back. However, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned to salt.
Last week, my scripture to commit to memory was James 2:17: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (KJV). Noah’s faith had works. He took action. His faith went beyond words. The Israelites acted in faith. Each step between the walls of water displayed their trust in God. Lot had faith, moved forward with his family, and did not look back. But his wife looked back. That brief lack of action cost her life.
Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (KJV).
In this verse, we are told if we want to be saved, we must truly believe in our hearts that Jesus died for our sins… that He took our place on the cross taking our punishment… and was resurrected by God. But not only should we believe it in our hearts, we should openly confess that Jesus is our Savior.
The Bible tells us that our enemy the devil is active. He is on the prowl. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8 KJV).
If we believe Jesus is our Savior, our actions should convey our belief. Our faith should be alive and working, expressing the love of Jesus, and confessing that Jesus is Lord.
If I say I am a Christian, my actions should show that I am a Christian.
