Memorial of Faith

How will your life be remembered by others once you die? What things will show your faith in Jesus?

Many times when someone dies, at their funeral, friends and family with gather together and they will “reminisce” or recall specific memories about that person’s life. Family trips, weddings, and other special moments that stand out. Things that that person had done.

Sometimes when someone does something very incredible, a statue is made of them to honor them, and as a reminder to others who see it of that achievement. In the United States, there are several statues and memorials dedicated to soldiers who have served their country in the military. These memorials are there for others to see the bravery and service that these people gave in the defense of their country. 

Our faith in Jesus, if it is truly faith, will lead us to do something with it that others can see working in our lives. A memorial, of sorts, that others can see and hopefully inspire them to do as well. Just as we look back through all of the apostle’s writings, all of which show their faith, we should desire to live our lives in the hope that someone else will see our faith and the works that it causes us to do for the name of Christ.

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James 2:17,18

Paul is no longer living here on the earth, but his faith in Jesus caused him to be filled with all kinds of actions and works, visible to us all even today, through his writings and teachings to the churches. His writings are the memorial of his faith, and Paul is someone who we can all look to as an example of faith. His faith was an active one, and his works are still read everyday throughout the world. 

That is what we NEED to have, an active faith. A faith that “gets up” and does something. A faith that doesn’t allow the covers of their Bible to collect dust. A faith that is alive inside of us, a light in the dark and visible to all. 

The incredible feat of building the ark, for example. An amazing display of faith by Noah. He was warned by the Lord that the earth would be destroyed by a flood and was commanded to build the ark to save himself and his family. It was faith in God that caused him to build that huge ship. And it wasn’t just a weekend project. It took a hundred years to build! Year after year, working on that ark. Why? Because he had faith in God, and it was evident by his works.

When the Israelites walked around the walls of Jericho, that was an act of faith in God, because it was what God told them to do. They didn’t just pull up a chair, and sit and do nothing. It was faith that caused them to walk around those walls, until they fell down.

When someone views us, we don’t want them to see us as a normal person. No, we need to be something completely different, someone who stands out. We want them to see Christ inside us, working through us in everything that we do, and we can do that through our works of faith.

Someone could say that they are a great baker, but unless they actually produce something absolutely delicious, it is not proven; how could someone truly know that they really are one?

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26

How will you be remembered? When you die and go before the Lord, how will your life be replayed? Will your faith be alive and evident in your actions, or will it be dead?

What will be the memorial of your faith?”

In Christ,

Andrew