So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

I once drove my car to the mall, parked it, and went shopping. When I returned to the car, it wouldn’t start. The battery was dead. My car looked clean and tidy from the outside. It had all the parts. The wheels were shiny black, the paint was shiny, and the car was washed. The interiors were all clean and even smelled great. It looked like it was ready to roll, but the car wasn’t going anywhere with a dead battery.

Has that ever happened to you?

This incident illustrates what James is trying to say when he writes, “faith without works is dead.” It looks like it should move. It seems like it should take you somewhere. But it doesn’t. It’s lifeless.

I truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I truly believe the Bible is the Word of God. I came across verses such as Mark 11:24: “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours,” and John 14:13: “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.”

I firmly believed them, and whenever I met a challenge in life, I prayed an honest prayer, firmly believing that it would come to pass. But over time, I learned this truth. “Faith without works is truly dead.”

I had faith, but my life did not align with Jesus’ character, will, and purpose. I had faith in God’s Word, but I was still battling sin in my daily life. I had one foot in the world and one foot in God’s kingdom. I held on to the pleasures of sin but also wanted all the goodness promised by God. My life did not have corresponding works that demonstrated my faith.

Believing in God is not the same as following Him. True faith changes how we live, how we forgive, how we treat others, how we spend our money, how we speak, and how we love—even when it’s hard.

You may say, “I believe in Jesus.” Awesome! But how has that belief changed your life?
Are you intentionally battling sin and fleeing from sinful habits?
Are you eager to share the gospel with the lost?
Are you quick to forgive?
Are you generous when someone is in need?Are you using your gifts to serve others?
Are you growing in your obedience to God’s Word?

Faith is not just what you believe. It’s how you live. You should draw people to you not because of how wonderful you are, but because they see Christ in you.

So, let’s not settle for a shiny, parked car with no power. Let’s jumpstart our faith and take it for a drive—fueled by obedience, love, and trust in God.

By Santosh Chandran, Bible League International staff, New Zealand