What's In The Works?
Psalm 111
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill, cannot be hid.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14, 16 GNV
When we think of "good works" we may think of doing charitable activities to help others in their lives. We may support that way of thinking with:
For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 GNV
Timothy P. Mahoney writing about his own personal journey in faith in "The Evidence Of Faith" said he had a new understanding of the human purpose. Quoting this verse he was able to say:
"This was an answer to the deep cry of my soul, the "Why am I here?" In Christ we are His workmanship created for good works. The truly amazing twist is Paul says that before we were born, these good works were prepared for us. Because God Himself is the Preparer! From this revelatory moment, I began to realize my job was to figure out what those "good works" were in my own life and get busy doing them."
This realization in today's understanding isn't the this and that charitable works, but rather the work we each do, our life's work should be done with excellence. All of our everyday work should be done as good work, and should demonstrate our best work as unto the Lord. Our Sunday worship and weekday workshould be one in the same.
Even so there is a reality that, yes, our very best should have kindness and goodness to others as an integral part of our life. As Jesus taught:
Then shall the king say to them on his right hand,
Come ye blessed of my father: take the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I thirsted, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in unto you. I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying,
Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or a thirst, and gave thee drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in unto us? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer, and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
Matthew 25:34-40 GNV
Someone may wonder, Richard, you're really into works and good works. What about faith? Isn't it enough that you have faith? Faith alone saves you you know.
Now faith is the grounds of things, which are hoped for, and the evidence of things which are not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 GNV
Looking at the substance, assurance of things hoped for, the evidence, the proving of things not seen, we have that assurance, and the proving is in our works, our actions.
And, there is a point. This meditation is looking at works because works are mentioned quite frequently in Psalms 111. But even so it is very important to recognize the relationship between faith and works, good works.
But some man might say, Thou hast the faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith out of thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:18 GNV
So how does this play out? Isn't there something more to help think this through?
But wilt thou understand, O thou vain man, that the faith which is without works, is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified through works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou not that the faith wrought with his works? and through the works was the faith made perfect. 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. Ye see then how that of works a man is justified, and not of faith only.
James 2:20-24 GNV
In the twenty or thirty years between when we're told that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness (God's view of Abraham) and the time Abraham offered Isaac his son unpon the altar (physical works) we see a continual dialog between Abraham and God, Abraham walking in faith and acting faithfully. So this is what God wants us to know:
For as the body without the spirit is dead, even so the faith without works is dead.
James 2:26 GNV
And so it is works that are the purpose of our faith.
For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of your selves: it is the gift of God, Not of works, least any man should boast himself. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 GNV
Good works, our life walk in faith. This is confirmed when Paul wrote:
Not by the works of righteousness, which we had done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of the new birth, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost,
Titus 3:5 GNV
Looking at those who had faith, who walked demonstrated by their works we see an example in Noah.
By faith Noah being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seen, moved with reverence, prepared the Ark to the saving of his household, through the which Ark he condemned the world, and was made heir of the righteousness, which is by faith.
Hebrews 11:7 GNV
The proving of Noah's works was the Ark Noah built in obedience to God that saved his household. He had been a preacher of righteousness for a hundred years, but in seven days efore the door of the Ark was closed not one other person chose to get on the Ark. Yes, Noah's obedience, his uprightness, simply by building the ark Noah condemned everyone who didn't get on it. This bears out the truth:
A wicked man is abomination to the just, and he that is upright in his way, is abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 29:27 GNV
Created in the image of God man is for the purpose, as has been established, unto good works. Because we read that Psalm 111 speaks repeatedly about the works the Lord does and what He is known for.
The works of the Lord are great, and ought to be sought out of all them that love them. His work is beautiful and glorious, and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be had in remembrance: the Lord is mercifull and full of compassion.
Psalms 111:2-4 GNV
Oh that our attitude and efforts in our works were like the One in whose image we are created. We read all of creation were the works of the Lord. Ours works are meant to be excellent as well, with the excellence He created us unto for His name's sake.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth the work of his hands.
Psalms 19:1 GNV
He has great physical works that speak volumes of Him. Man sends finite miniscule tools like the James Webb Space Telescope millions of miles out in space and builds an equally miniscule test center like the Large Haldron Collider in Cern, Switzerland, these are in comparison to what little man can learn about the depths of space and infintesimally smallest particles man has theorized exists, but is not even beginning to grasp what actually physically exists.
But far greater is that also what man cannot find without God, truth and judgment, because they also are His works.
He hath shewed to his people the power of his works in giving unto them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are truth and judgment: all his statutes are true. They are stablished for ever and ever, and are done in truth and equity.
Psalms 111:6-8 GNV
So when we wonder about what is in the works, with so much about us in all that God has created, in our own selves alone first we must know God Himself, our source of good works.
CREDIT
• The Evidence of Faith
- Timothy P. Mahoney with Robert Noland and Steven Law
Thinking Man Media ©2017