“Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at
all." ~ James 2:17
Ted’s love affair with Corvettes
began in the late 60’s. He was working
part time at his father’s Sinclair gas station.
Back then they were called Service Stations, since ‘Pump Jockeys’ ran to
your car with a smile and pumped your gas for 24.9 cents a gallon.
While the gas was pumping, they’d wash your windows, check
the air in your tires and check your oil; sometimes all for less than $2. It was a great time to grow up in a small Midwestern
town where muscle cars dominated the streets - Hemi Cudas, Z 28 Camaros and of
course Corvettes.
One day while Ted was working in a repair bay, the bell rang,
signaling that someone had pulled up needing gas. He turned and saw a beautiful 1968 Corvette Stingray:
327, 350 hp.
It was love at first sight!
Ted was more taken by the curves of that shark body than the pretty
blond woman driving it.
Noting his admiration for the car, she asked if Ted knew
anyone looking to buy her Corvette. For
$2,500, Ted bought his first car before he even had a driver’s license.
While 1960s Corvettes impressed with power and speed, they
often came up short in handling precision.
It took Ted but one time to figure that out. Just because you’re driving a car that can go
130 mph; you probably shouldn’t - especially when approaching a sharp
curve.
Luckily, he walked away from what many don't. But the car was a mess. And since he no longer had a license or the
money to fix it, it sat idle in his parent’s driveway for a long time.
He’d sometimes sit outside in the Corvette pretending to be
cruising until his Mom would call Ted back inside. She said it looked pathetic and he was
embarrassing her in front of the neighbors!
Nothing more than a lawn ornament - the look of Detroit
muscle without any punch. Much like what’s
spoken of in James Chapter 2 - like faith without works, because the car was
unable to perform its intended purpose. It
wasn’t meant to reside in the driveway, unable to move. It was built for speed; to roar down the road
and growl at stops.
So, it is with our faith. Our faith is not an end unto itself. Faith that doesn’t work is as useless as a car
which can’t drive, a plane which cannot fly, or a ship which can’t sail. James says that real faith works. The deeds we do are the natural outgrowth of
our faith. If there are no deeds, no
works of the flesh, then there is no real faith without action.
“Use my hands, use my feet to make Your kingdom
come. To the corners of the earth until
Your work is done. 'Cause faith without
works is dead and on the cross Your blood was shed. So how could we not give it away so freely?” (Leeland 2009)
