The Christian Factory

 

Faith 

A factory in simple terms takes in a raw material and produces something out of it.  So, what is the raw material in the Christian Factory and what is produced from it?  The raw material of the Christian Factory is Faith!  The end-product is good works.  Paul remembered the Thessalonians for their work produced by faith. (1 Thessalonians 1:3a).  You may have heard it said that if you had enough faith, you wouldn't get sick.  Or if you had enough faith, great things would happen in your life.  But when the Disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith, He said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." (Luke 17:6).  What is great about the Christian Factory is that you don't need a lot of raw material to produce a lot of finished products.  Very many Good works can come from very small faith.  All the faith you need is to believe that God is, that Jesus is His son, that God raised him from the dead, and that the power that raised Jesus can work in your life as well.  In John 14 verse 12 Jesus said "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father".  See, it doesn't take a lot of Faith to produce a lot of good works which God prepared in advance that we should do. (Eph 2:10) 

  

The quality or strength of your faith will determine the quality of your work, but that is another discussion. 

  

Faith is the raw material from which good works are produced. 

  

Love 

What is the motivating force of the Christian Factory?  What is the fuel, the electricity that runs the factory that produces good works from faith?  It is Love.  In 1 Thessalonians 1:3b Paul remembers the Thessalonians for their labor prompted by love.  Love is what motivated Jesus to do what he did.  Love is what motivated the apostles to take the gospel to the whole world.  Love is what motivated the Thessalonians to work in the kingdom of the Lord.  In John 14, Jesus says 3 times that if you love Him, you will do what he commands.  Let’s read some verses from John 14.  

 

Verse 15. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” 

Verse 21. “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” 

Verse 23-24. “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.” 

 

2 Corinthians 5:14,15. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 

Ephesians 4:16. From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 

 

Here we see that love is the motivator that turns faith into obedient action and good works. 

  

Hope 

We have seen that the Christian Factory produces good works from the raw material of faith by the energy of love.  But what is going to keep the Christian Factory running fresh product year after year.  What funds the operations?  What will keep the Christian Factory from needing a government bailout?  What keeps love and faith fresh?  It is hope.  In 1 Thessalonians 1:3C, Paul continues to remember the Thessalonians for their endurance inspired by Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Romans 8:22-25. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

 

Hebrews 6:18b-20a. [We] hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf. 

  

Is your Christian Factory producing the kind and quantity of good works that is should?  If not, look at your love.  Consider what Jesus has done for you and consider it some more.  Then love Him for it. 

  

Is your Christian Factory falling into a state of disrepair?  If so, think about eternity.  Put you hope in Christ.  Don't start thinking you can produce the good works that God requires on your own.  In fact, your Factory won't be a Christian Factory if it isn't located in the Industrial Park of Christ.  All spiritual blessings are in Christ according to Ephesians 1.  Psalm 127:1 says "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." 

  

Jesus offers an invitation to each one of us.  Through baptism we can come into his kingdom, through repentance we can come again into his fold.  If the invitation applies to you, contact us. We'd love to help you. We look forward to growing together in faith. Deron S.

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