“without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

It is getting close to that time of year where I need to be thinking about what I don’t want to think about. In my thinking, I have determined that the opposite of Faith… is Taxes! I have a super hatred of this time of year, not because I don’t’ like paying taxes. But because I HATE MATH! I realize that without taxes, I would not be able to enjoy a LOT of benefits I take for granted. But making me do math seems a little excessive.

I live in a house, drive a vehicle, walk among other people and even make a living because of taxes. Security, serenity and safety are conditions supplied by all of us mutually paying for services that our taxes support. Unfortunately I must keep receipts and records, and then report an accounting of my year to the government. Based upon that report, I will be accessed MY share of taxes. The more careful I am in recording and mathematics, the less I will have to pay… AND the more I can keep.

I do not have ALL of my receipts. Not being an organized person… and not caring to become one, I don’t bother saving them all. Which means, in essence, that I must pay for my refusal to keep track of my own expenditures! In reflecting about my Faith in God… it has hit me that God NEVER requires that I keep any record of my works of faith… since the Bible is clear… HE already DOES!

I don’t know which is worse, knowing that I am going to have to support my claims to the government, or not knowing what claims my God will require me to support! I DO know that the majority of earthlings do not give ‘The Judgment’ of God much thought! I ALSO think I’d rather face the IRS for my actions, or inactions… than an unhappy God!

God measures my life by what I DON’T see. He tells me that if I want a favorable ruling when I meet Him, that I MUST believe He exists RIGHT HERE and NOW! And that I am to invest time, money, gifts and service into HIS work… WITHOUT seeing the exact, immediate reward. But I am required to BELIEVE that it will be there! In essence.. I am to deliberately trust that He is trustworthy in my every action on earth. And not to worry about receipts… HE is keeping score!!!!! ‘I’ am NOT required to ‘do the math!’

How Faithful am I? I THINK I’m OK. I mean, maybe I’ll get a ‘C’. But I realize that even saying that is arrogant because of possible pride or humility. Scoring is not my job. DOING is. And the DOING is walking by Faith TODAY… RIGHT NOW! So…what am I doing, right this minute, that is pleasing to God? What will I do the REST of my day? My LIFE? I DO know this… Judgment Day.. like April 15… is coming! And doing NOTHING is a VERY bad option! It’s time to leap!