In his book, Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard writes, “We don’t believe something by merely saying we believe it, or even when we believe that we believe it. We believe something when we act as if it were true.”

 

As I write this blog, I’m sitting in my desk chair. The main reason I’m sitting here is that I believe the chair will hold me up. I’m not just saying I believe it; I’m not just believing I believe it; rather, I’m acting as if the chair will hold me up. If I believed the chair would crash down to the ground the moment I sat in it, I would not be sitting here and I would be looking for a new chair.

 

Jesus gave some instructions and commandments that are difficult for me to follow. For example:

 

• I know how horrific murder is, but Jesus says if I hate someone, I fall under the same judgment – Matt. 5:21-22.
• I know how damaging adultery is, but Jesus says if I look at a woman lustfully, I’ve committed the same sin in my heart – Matt. 5:27-28.
• I’m great with loving my neighbors and hating my enemies, but Jesus says to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me – Matt. 5:43-44.
• I’m good with forgiving someone who’s hurt me up to seven times, but Jesus says not to forgive seven times, but 77 times (a symbolic number meaning that forgiveness should be unlimited) – Matt. 18:21-22.

 

Here’s what it boils down to: will I sit in the “chair of faith” as readily as I’ll sit in my desk chair? Do I really believe that Jesus loves me and wants only what’s best for me? Am I just saying I believe, or believing I believe, or am I acting as if Jesus truly wants what’s best for me and teaches me accordingly?

 

Will I live my life, day by day and moment by moment, with the understanding that “faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse” (Philip Yancey)? Will you live that way? Sit down, please!

 

Troy Burns