James 2:19-20.
2:19. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!
2:20. But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
The Secret of Faith
The thing that should be obvious is that our world, the universe, and everything in it has physical qualities. God is spirit. There is a spiritual realm that we are unable to perceive. We can’t see it, hear it, touch it, smell it, or taste it. Some people refuse to believe it is there, but that is one purpose of the bible. To put into writing, the things that we only get hints at in observing our natural world.
For some reason, people find it easier to believe in devils and emons than in God. James makes this claim that even the demons know and believe God exists. They believe and tremble. So to believe there is a god, the God, then that’s a good start.
Look at the words here in this phrase, “do you want to know,” The word “want’ is one that means to desire something. What is the thing that is desired? Not actions, not faith, but knowledge. The audience that James is speaking to just could not understand the concept of how faith is proved by actions.
Maybe it’s because God is a spirit being, and we can’t see him, that people think of matters of faith as being some sort of mental excersize. Faith is more than a mental state, or thought process. It begins there, but as faith grows, it should overflow into the way we live our lives.
Don’t be fooled. The secret is, there is no secret. God really does exist, and the bible is the true source where we can get to know all about him. Read about his promises. Put it to the test and live according to the laws we are to live by.
Having a faith with actions is more than just a good way to reach other people and have them join the kingdom of God. Living out faith is the way we can have an abundant life here on earth. God’s desire is for his people to thrive. The promise is complete when we live in the way he intends for us to live. We can know and experience a little slice of heaven on earth when we do.