Missing Heaven by 18 Inches

During Kyrios, T-Ben a counsellor at the fellowship at the time had given us an article titled Missing Heaven by 18 Inches. It's 18 inches between our brain to our heart. The gist of the article was that we may know a lot of head knowledge about who God is, who Jesus is and what Jesus did for mankind when He voluntarily got crucified on a cross. But what truly matters is if we believe it in our heart that Jesus Christ is God, and that through His horrible and lowly death, we are saved from God's eternal judgement.

Lately, I've felt challenged to relook at whatand how I've been reading and learning in the Bible. Its been a struggle of head vs. heart lately - that many things I've been reading and learning are mere facts. I've been listening to the mp3 lectures that GY downloaded for me on Introduction to Theology and been learning some really interesting things. But I think I've fallen into one of the things the professor in the lectures warned about, which was not to take the Bible as a textbook of information, but really of God's Holy and Living word. The prof said that as Christians studying the word in a systematic manner, we need to remember that it's not just to know His Word, but it's to believe in His Word. Its easy for me to quickly answer, yes I believe this. But for it to actually shape my thoughts, actions and perceptions, it takes faithful and meditative understanding of the implications of His word. I think this is what I've been lacking lately.

A few weeks ago at Oasis Christian Community, the passage was on James 2 (my favourite book!) - faith and deeds. James 2:14-19

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have
deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my
faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the
demons believe that—and shudder.

It says that even the demons know that there is a God. It speaks nothing to just know God's word if I don't allow it to change me. I've been lacking that lately. Though sometimes I don't know how to get back to it - how to read the Word and let it change me, convict me, rebuke me.

It occured to me that belief and faith in God's Word goes much further beyond
belief in the basic doctrine. I think that was the simple part. Not that I
don't believe other passages aren't true or aren't God's promises, but to
believe in it such that I can trust all my life to it even if sometimes it is
contrary to human and society's reason - that's the hard part.

As per Mulder's poster - I want to Believe.