Dead Dustbusters -
January 23, 2001
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so
faith without works is also dead. - James 2:26
This past Christmas one of the gifts we received was a
Black & Decker Dustbuster cordless hand vacuum
cleaner, an absolute essential for any family with small
children. We were filled with joy when we tore open the
package because our previous Dustbuster bit the dust
three weeks earlier. Yup, one day while I was cleaning
up, Old Gray sucked her last Cheerio out of the carpet,
sputtered a little, gave up the ghost and died right
there in my hand. My heart was grieved, but before long I
started to ponder philosophically. Was this cold plastic
in my hand still a real Dustbuster? Sure it looked like a
Dustbuster, but it was no more useful than my kids' toy
vacuum sweeper, and that one is fake. What was I to do? I
took the lifeless remains and cast them into the trash
where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Many folks struggle with the relationship between
faith and works mentioned in the second chapter of James.
First off, works can in no way buy our salvation. There
is nothing you can do to make you worthy of heaven, and
that's not what James is talking about. Works are the
natural result of faith, not the way to faith. Maybe our
old Dustbuster can speak to us from beyond the grave to
shed some light on this subject. You see, a Dustbuster's
focus isn't on vacuuming. Not once in all the years we
owned her did Old Gray jump off the wall to clean up even
when the mess was right under her nose. No, her focus was
to stay connected to the power source and available
anytime the master (that's me) decided to reach down and
use her. She did a lot of work in her day, but only
because she was right where she needed to be when I
wanted to use her. Real Christians are like that too.
They will do a lot of work and good deeds, but not
because they set out to do them. They will be useful
because their faith keeps them connected to the Power
Source and attentive to the guiding direction of the
Master's hand. The great secret of a successful Christian
walk is no secret at all. Christ even called it the
greatest commandment. Put God first in all things and
keep your eyes focused on only Him. Do that and you'll
never be a dead Dustbuster.
