The Perfection of Our Faith

Jesus embodied the sacrifices required to offer us legal innocence and eternal life (Hebrews 9: 12-14), for he "endured the cross, despising the shame," as "author and finisher" of our faith (Hebrews 12: 2).  Since we too live within the context and dynamics of the great controversy, we have become victims of constant harassment by the forces opposed to God's government and being exposed to its trials and hardships, regardless of our acceptance or lack thereof of God's promises.  From God's perspective, however, and although suffering is a natural part of the experience of every human being, James invites us to reconsider this unavoidable reality as a positive development (really?)  He invites us to " counted all joy" when we are in the midst of various trials (James 1: 2), thought it also shared by Peter, who reminds us that we should not be surprised when we see ourselves involved in the "fiery trial", and use it as reason for joy (1 Peter 4:12).  Not that the tests are part of an obstacle course, a source of suffering to invite God's compassion, or an exam to earn heaven, but an indicator of the obvious, that we are at war (Revelation 12:17 ) and in a process of rehabilitation on our way to eternal life (1 Peter 1: 6).

Thanks to the option offered by heaven, we have the opportunity to focus on God's offer which goes beyond suffering, finding that the promise is well worth the sacrifice.  Why sacrifice?  Because to make that promise a reality, it requires a definite intent of the individual to act patiently against his own nature (James 2: 4), in mutual commitment to other believers "until we all reach unity in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God," which is identified as a state of perfection, to the parameters established by the ministry and person of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:13).  Paul tells us that the motivations to reach this state of perfection, or maturity, do not rest on personal or spiritual achievements or failures of the past, but in the constant search for achieving the goal that God has seen fit to describe in His Word (Philippians 3:12-14).

One essential ingredient to make the dynamics just described a possibility, is wisdom, or the ability to discern the divine will that, according to James, is available to us in response to the request in faith to God (James 1: 5).  This knowledge will be acquired through the unquestioned and defenseless submission to the authority, instruction and will of God (James 1:6-8,19-21), and it will manifest itself through our behavior (James 3:13).

Religion is the machinery that God has implemented to channel us in this dynamic of salvation, which inevitably leads to selflessness and detachment (James 1:27 & 2:15,16).  Any other path we may take, it will be a clear indication that the implementation of religion has not been according to the divine version.