Work?

Work ethic is an important trait to be successful and any career.  For example, if you were a fireman and decided not to work you would probably get fired and even worse someone could die because of your laziness.  In fact, I would argue for any job out there.  If you did not work to be the best of your potiental you either wouldn't be successful and you could possibly even be a failure. 

Some Christians take a look at Christianity in the same format.  Work hard, work long, work. work. work.  Work is the name of the game.  Don't get me wrong, Christian work is good, Christian work is effective, Christian work is essential for salvation.  But, when do we put our trust in our "work", our "good deeds".

Romans 4:1 - 8 is our scripture for today.  Text talks about work saved Abraham... Was it his works?  In Genesis 22 God tested Abraham.  Genesis 22:2 "Then God said "Take you son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you".  It even sounds like God is rubbing it in a bit, "the son you love", "your only son".  That is crazy!!  Sacrifice your son that you waited many many years for; who I promised was the son to fulfill God's promise. 

Did Abraham agrue?  Do he complain?  Did he try to reason?  No, Abraham did exactly what God told him to do; no matter how crazy it was.

Can you imagine the walk up to the mountain. The discussions they had on the way up.  I would assume that Abraham was not crying.  The Bible doesn't say, but I would think the boy would know something is up.

Putting Issac on the alter.  Kids under stress can be very strong.  I am sure Issac figured out what was happening.  Imaging wrestling your own son; knowing you are going to kill him through sacrifice.  Abraham came very close to doing it.  The angel of the Lord stopped him. 

Talking about looking over your shoulder when Abraham walked in the room.  How can you trust Abraham again?  Do you sleep with one eye open?  Did Issac get any sleep that night?

What did Sara say when they got home.  I can hear it now.  "Mom, God told dad to sacrifice me, but an angel stopped him right before he killed me.  It was really cool mom."

Even more interesting as to what was discussed on the way up the mountain when Abraham was going to sacrifice his own son is the question what did they discuss when they were coming down off the mountain?  I am sure Abraham explained to Issac the test that God put him through.  Maybe they discussed what God had done for Abraham? 

Do you think Sara was ok with Abraham almost killing her son?  After just leaving from their home to live as a nomad in the desert?  Did she understand? How stressful was that for Abraham to tell Sara what happened?

Abraham was not saved by works.  What!??  That work that would have been horribly difficult did not save him? 

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness"

If Abraham is not saved by works then I most definately am not.

What is it that saves us?  It is the gift that God has given both Abraham and all of us.  It is the gift of his son.  God did go through with the sacrifice and I am so happy He did.  Through acceptance of His gift through baptism we can have eternal life.

It is not earned by works and good deeds. 

M. Scott Miller