Pencils

We were over at the house of one of our friends.  Edgar and Karen are some of the strongest members in our little congregation here in Wilmington.  We had gone over to help them with some translation work, making sure that they had some paperwork in order.  They invited us to stay over for lunch, a nice rice-beans-and-chicken combo.  (Sometimes, I suspect that they ask us to do chores as an excuse to get us over there.)  While we were there, we got to talking about life, and hwat we have to do, and especially what we as missionaries can do better.  He got to talking about how we should use examples for everything we teach, and back it up with scriptures.

One of the examples that he gave us is really good.  Edgar talked to us, and asked wheter we have faith.  Of course, we said yes.  Then, he pulled a pencil from his pocket and asked a question.  "Says in the Bible that with faith, you can move mountains.  Can your faith move this pencil from this hand to the other?"

Well, my companion sat there grunting and thinking about it for a while, and admitted that he could not.  I had seen the example before and so knew the answer.  Reaching for the pencil in his hand, I transferred it to the other hand.

"Exactly."

Just like it says in James chapter 2,

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. ~James 2:14-24

If we will show God our faith by doing what he says, we will see miracles in our lives.  We will have eternal life, and nothing that Satan throws at us will be able to bring us down.