When my kids were young, we would drive by the exhibition grounds at night during the fair. It was spectacular! The lights from the Ferris Wheel, the Zipper, the Ring of Fire, and many other rides flashed and swirled across the dark sky. As a bonus, the smell of popcorn wafted through the air, and you could hear people laughing, screaming and having a great time.
It is one thing to sit outside the fence and watch the fair. It is a completely different experience to pay your money, go through the gate and ride the rides.
The only way to really experience the fair is to try it. Watching is not enough. One must act!
The same is true in spiritual matters: Action is required! One cannot study their way into a spiritual life. Thinking is not enough. One cannot memorize enough scripture to be holy. Beliefs are not enough. One cannot listen their way to a new life. Lessons are not enough. While those things are important, the only way to experience the new life is to try it.
One of the best ways to prove the truth of God’s word is to put it to the test. For example, the next time someone says something stupid to you, instead of retaliating or escalating the argument, why not try turning the other cheek and see if it works better? (Matthew 5:38-40) Instead of living only for yourself and what you want, why not try being generous with your time and money? (Philippians 2:3) Try serving others and see if life feels richer and fuller. (Mark 10:42-45) The only way to know whether it really works is to try it.
Too often, faith gets reduced to a list of ideas to believe and rules to keep. There is nothing fulfilling in that! We need to act on what we know. Faith needs motion. It is not about earning anything, but about experiencing something. Jesus’ invitation was “Come follow me” (Mark 1:17), not “Think about this!”
It is time to stop watching and go to the fair!
“Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
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