Stunt Double
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works?” – James 2:14
The infamous movie “42” came to the big screen in 2013. The late Chadwick Boseman played Jackie Robinson, bringing the true story of an American legend to viewers everywhere.
However, Boseman was an actor, not a baseball player. When the audience sees number 42 running the bases, they aren’t looking at Boseman. Instead, they see stunt double Jasha Balcom. The audience saw Boseman as Jackie Robinson and as an athlete running bases, but he wasn’t either one.
Football players call themselves football players because they play football. The same goes for softball players, swimmers, gymnasts and every other sport. But do we realize the same goes for our faith, too?
When we say we are Christians, we must do what Christ calls us to. We cannot have faith without the works. It would be like a player claiming to be on the team even though their name isn’t on the roster.
God calls us to have faith, believe in Him, and have a heart willing to serve Him, His church, and His people. He calls us to trust, listen and obey Him. We are called to be men and women who love God and love people.
When we do this and when others see us, they won’t see us pretending to be a Christian or faking it like a stunt double. They will see our faith and our works joined together. They will see the root of our faith producing the fruit or the works from our faith.
Let us be a people that loves God and loves people. Let our faith be seen in our works.
- Can a plant produce fruit if there is no root?
- What are some things God calls us to do?
- How can we faithfully do those things in and out of our sport?
“God, help me grow in my faith and my works for You. Teach me how to move my faith into action and live out what I believe in and what You call me to do. Help my faith and works to increase Your Kingdom and others’ love for You! Amen.”