Over the Edge
Another valuable faith lesson I learned while mountain climbing was in the rappel. Simply defined, rappelling is the
act of descending from the top of a rock face down to where the climb began by means of a specially designed piece of hardware that creates enough friction to allow a climber to slide down a fixed rope safely. What that definition didn’t say was that the first step in a rappel has the potential of being extremely frightening. If it wasn’t for the persistent questioning of the climber handling my safety belay rope I’d probably still be on the cliff”s edge during my first rappels. But he kept asking me if I trusted him and did I trust the equipment and I kept saying yes, yet my body wasn’t moving. He countered with “I won’t believe that you trust me and the equipment until I see you take the first step over the edge. I need to see some action to back up your words”. Once I put my actions where my words were it was one sensational ride to the bottom. I wonder how many Christians are missing the sensational ride the Lord has available for them because their faith hasn’t progressed beyond their words. God hears our words of faith but expects to see lives that back up those words. God may be asking you why you declare belief in him but aren’t willing to step over the edge and prove it. Are you confused and afraid of how the Lord wants you to demonstrate the genuiness of your faith? Why don’t you ask him. You’ll be amazed at what he’ll reveal. “Now faith comes by hearing and hearing comes from the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
“…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead…I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:17, 18