Compelled to Act

11/4/2020

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”

If you have not read the Book of James in the Bible, I would encourage you to do so. It has become one of my favorites to return to when I need some really straight talk. James pulled no punches trying to make me feel better about myself or more comfortable with the gravity of truth. Just the second verse in chapter one brings these words: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Joy in trials. What? There is clearly a “no whining” theme in this book, and it is jam-packed with challenges and hard truths. Yet, isn’t the whole of the Bible this way as well? Even in the more lyrical poetic books, truth is the key. We must take it all in its entirety. The Gospel, however, is where we find Jesus as the Atonement for the world’s sin.

After a person hears the powerful truth of the Gospel, they are compelled to act. You either yield to the truth of the Atonement, or you walk away from that truth. Either way, the act is deliberate. We, as believers, can only share this transformative truth with others; we cannot choose for them. Although, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could? Chambers writes, “The responsibility must be left with the individual, you cannot act for him, it must be his own deliberate act, but the evangelical message ought always lead a man to act.” Yielding to Jesus is scary for some, because they have to face their sin head-on. They also may think that a life of faith is too limiting in this world where self-centeredness is encouraged. So many people are working to reach their full potential, peace, or happiness. The only way to truly achieve any of these things is to completely surrender to Jesus. All else is temporal as best, and a lie of Satan at worst.

Chambers writes, “The feeblest saint who transacts business with Jesus Christ is emanci-pated [sic] the second he acts; all the almightly power of God is on his behalf.” Why wouldn’t everyone want such emancipation? For only with Jesus comes true and lasting freedom. What better reason to take action and yield to the Savior?