My Sunday School lesson this week was about the church in Revelations that had lost its first love by focusing on what they did versus a focus on a relationship with Jesus. There are many other places in the Bible that speak to faith versus works. Our works in life, or what we do, is based on our perceptions through our senses of taste, touch, sight, hear, and smell.
Many of us are like the apostle “Doubting Thomas” and refuse to acknowledge or believe unless we get proof through one of these senses. On the other hand, faith allows us to hope, dream, and believe in possibilities. If it were not for this faith in the possible, how many of life’s realities would not be enjoyed today. We would still be moving around by foot like the caveman, and we would still be using the light of the sun, moon, and stars instead of using electricity.
Our physical senses do guide us, inform us, and help us. These even can give us joy and pleasure. Just think back to Thanksgiving turkey and dressing or the scent of your favorite flower. Our senses take care of us as in a warning when something catches on fire.
However, too much reliance on our senses and too little reliance on faith can seriously limit the quality and productivity of life. A person never leaves the ghetto by believing that is all there is. Yet look at the Clarence Thomases and the Oprah Winfreys who have dared to step out and did find success. Look at the people who have excelled despite a disability or who have even taken just regular opportunities in life and made the best of them – like using GI bill money from military service to make a career path.
One of my favorite movie lines is from Mame – the eccentric red-headed aunt commented that “Life is a banquet and a lot of poor people are starving to death.” That is so true when we only see the water and crackers of life instead of using faith to accept the banquet that we can have.
