Beyond the Recliner: Rekindling an Active Faith

In a world filled with endless distractions and the allure of comfort, it's easy for our spiritual lives to become stagnant. We settle into routines, seeking security in our everyday lives, and before we know it, complacency sets in. This isn't just about men, but a challenge all of us face: falling into the motions of faith without truly engaging our hearts. We might still believe, but our faith often lacks the vibrant, active spark it once had. As the old proverb wisely states, “the nearer the church, the further from God.”
Abraham: A Testament to Active Faith
Let's look at Abraham, a man renowned in the Bible for his faith. He wasn't born into a life of devout worship; in fact, he lived in a city steeped in idolatry. Abraham wasn't searching for God, nor had he done anything to deserve divine attention. Yet, in His boundless grace, God called him. Genesis 12:1-4 beautifully illustrates this: "Now the Lord had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you...'" And without hesitation, "So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him."
This wasn't about Abraham making promises to God; it was about him believing God’s promises to him. As Genesis 15:6 declares, "And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness." This verse, often called the "John 3:16 of the Old Testament," underscores a fundamental truth: salvation comes by grace through faith. Abraham's belief wasn't passive; the Hebrew word for "believed" means "to lean your whole weight upon." He leaned wholly on God’s promise and the God of the promise.
The Ultimate Test: When Faith Meets Trial
Abraham had everything: peace, wealth, and the miraculous son, Isaac, through whom God's promises would continue. It was precisely at this point of comfort that complacency could have easily crept in. Perhaps this is why God chose to test Abraham in the most profound way imaginable.
In Genesis 22:1-14, God commanded Abraham to offer Isaac, his only son, as a burnt offering. Imagine the turmoil: the son of promise, born against all odds, now to be sacrificed. Our immediate reaction to such trials is often "Why, Lord? Why me?" We crave explanations for our suffering, whether it's the loss of a loved one, career setbacks, or unimaginable personal heartache.
But Abraham didn't demand answers. He rose early, prepared for the journey, and with unwavering faith, told his servants, "The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." Abraham believed God would never contradict His own promise that "in Isaac shall thy seed be called." His faith wasn't blind; it was an active, trusting reliance on God's character and promises. As Dr. Warren Wiersbe wisely noted, "Faith does not demand explanations; faith rests on promises."
The Antidote to Complacency: An Active Faith
When Abraham lifted the knife, ready to obey, the Angel of the Lord intervened, providing a ram as a substitute. Abraham had displayed true, active faith through his obedience. God’s testing isn’t meant to punish us, but to purify our faith, perfect our character, and protect us from sin. As James 1:2-4 teaches, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience... that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
The greatest danger to our faith is complacency, and its antidote is an active faith. Abraham faced many trials, and each time he emerged more complete, more reliant on God. He never settled into spiritual stagnation.
Can the same be said for you? Are you allowing life's challenges to strengthen your faith, pushing you to lean more fully on God's promises? Or are you succumbing to the subtle, dangerous pull of comfort and disengagement? It's time to move beyond the recliner and embrace an active, living faith that trusts God in every circumstance.