February 12 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 43—James 2:17–19

¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
¹⁸ But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Devotional:

Jean François Gravelet (1824–1897), also known as Charles (or Chevalier) Blondin, was a French acrobat and tight-rope walker. "The Great Blondin" was especially famous for crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope. He did this repeatedly, always with creative theatrics.

To walk across the gorge at Niagara Falls once seems foolhardy, to do it seventeen times seems like madness. Yet this was only one of Blondin's impressive feats on the high wire. Chevalier Blondin made his name crossing Niagara Gorge on a tightrope for the first time on 30th June 1859 on a rope 50 metres (160 feet) above the water, nearly half a kilometre (over quarter of a mile) long and just 7.5cm (three inches) in diameter. He had wanted to cross at the falls a kilometre upstream but the owner, fearing an accident, refused permission.

Blondin made several more crossings of Niagara, each one more daring than the last. He crossed it blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow; once he carried a stove, stopped half way across and cooked himself an omelette, another time he crossed on stilts. In August 1859 he crossed the gorge with his manager Harry Colcord on his back. According to legend Colcord claimed that the trip was truly terrifying with broken guy ropes causing the rope to swing violently and Colcord had to dismount half way across.

In 1860 the Prince of Wales watched Blondin cross Niagara Gorge. He was asked if he would like to be carried on Blondin's back for the return journey. He refused. ^†

The Prince of Wales had knowledge; he knew what the stunt involved. He had assent; he believed Blondin could do it. But he was not willing to entrust his life to the tightrope walker. His faith never moved from the theoretical to the real.

That's a good illustration of how saving faith involves not only knowing about Christ, not only assenting to the truth of the gospel, but also entrusting yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Saving faith stands in stark contrast to merely "Talkative," dead faith.

Living, saving faith cannot be self-produced. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit's regenerating work in hearts.

"I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7).

"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19).

The Holy Spirit especially uses the preaching of the gospel to perform this gracious work. Saving faith includes:

1. knowing the facts of the gospel;

2. assenting in your heart to the truth of those facts; and

3. receiving and resting on Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

Doctrinal demons don't have saving faith. Nor do "Talkative" Christians. Do you?

^† http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/guided_tours/circus_tour/circus_performers/blondin.php

Click here for background on the author of Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James for Secret or Family Worship.