Bibledoorajar: Moses signs off With Faith and Faithfulness

Before Moses handed over the leadership of Israel to Joshua, he convened the people and said:

     "For the commandment  that I command you today---it is not hidden from you amd it is not distant. It is not in heaven [for you] to say, 'Who can ascend to the heaven for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it?' Not is it across the sea, [for you] to say, 'Who can cross to the other side of the sea for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it.'
Rather, the matter is very near to you----in your mouth and your heart----to perform it.
     See----I have placed before  you today the life and the good, and the death and the evil, that which I command you today, to love your God, to walk in His ways, to observe His commandments, His decrees, and His ordinances; then you will live and you will multiply, and your God will bless you in the Land to which you come, to possess it. But if your heart will stray and you will not listen, and you are led astray, and you prostrate yourself to the gods of others and serve them, I tell you today that you will surely be lost; you will not lengthen your days upon the Land that you cross the Jordan to come there, to possess it. I call heaven and earth today to bear witness against you: I have placed life and death before you, blessing and curse; and you shall choose life, so that you will live, you and your offspring----." Deuteronomy 30:11-19

As a Christian it is clear from the Word that we obtain our salvation through faith and that that faith is composed in part of belief, hope and trust. However, we all have to learn that a complete understanding of faith leads not to just hope and trust but to true faithfulness to Him. Our heart turned to God will impact our speech and our deeds. As He is faithful so we must be. As He has heartfelt love for us so we must have heartfelt love for Him. The apostle James teaches us that our steadfastness can have a full effect. We can be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. And if our steadfastness includes persevering under trial and we endure, God will proclaim that we have stood the test. There is a crown of life reserved for lives lived this way (see the book of James).  Sound good? Not hidden or distant? If it does seem hidden or distant, we have today to rethink our choices. He is near but we must draw near to Him. Listen to your mouth and heart.