The human heart, your heart, produces desires or longings like fire produces heat. Your heart is defined by its longings. As surely as sparks fly upward, your heart pumps out desire after desire. So we should be able to define faith and works in terms of this stream of longings that gush up out of the heart all day long. The heart that is set on works (flesh) desires the thrill of feeling its will and its body rise victoriously to some challenge. The heart that is set on works will attempt to scale a vertical rock face, or take on extra responsibilities at work, or risk life in the combat zone, or agonize through a marathon, or perform religious fasting for weeks—all for that wonderful thrill of conquering a challenge by the force of its will and stamina of its body. Even though the heart that is set on works often expresses its love for independence and self-styled pleasure by rejecting courtesy and decency and morality, its the same heart of works which also gets disgusted with animal dissipations and sets out to find the real thrill of self-denial and courage and personal greatness. The heart that is set on works longs for the thrill of feeling itself overcome great obstacles.
But the heart that is set on faith is very different. Its desires are no less strong; but what it desires is the thrill of feeling God rise victoriously to a challenge in us and through us. Works wants the thrill of feeling itself overcome an obstacle. Faith wants the thrill of feeling God overcome an obstacle. Works longs for the joy of being glorified as capable and strong and smart. Faith longs for the joy of seeing God glorified for his capability and his strength and his wisdom. In its religious form works accepts the challenge of morality, conquers its obstacles through great exertion, and offers the victory to God for his gratitude and applause and recompense. Faith also accepts the challenge of morality, but only as an occasion to become the instrument of God's power, and when the victory is achieved, faith rejoices that all the glory and thanks belong to God.
-Pr John Piper
But the heart that is set on faith is very different. Its desires are no less strong; but what it desires is the thrill of feeling God rise victoriously to a challenge in us and through us. Works wants the thrill of feeling itself overcome an obstacle. Faith wants the thrill of feeling God overcome an obstacle. Works longs for the joy of being glorified as capable and strong and smart. Faith longs for the joy of seeing God glorified for his capability and his strength and his wisdom. In its religious form works accepts the challenge of morality, conquers its obstacles through great exertion, and offers the victory to God for his gratitude and applause and recompense. Faith also accepts the challenge of morality, but only as an occasion to become the instrument of God's power, and when the victory is achieved, faith rejoices that all the glory and thanks belong to God.
-Pr John Piper
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