In our previous reflections, James has expressed to us about a God who is personal and good; he gives good gifts and gives them generously (1:5, 17). A God who is absolute; his word is true and his judgments are supreme (1:18; 4:12). The effects of prayer, the value of speech, wisdom and other elements that help us to grow deeper in the Lord.
Having walked with Apostle James for the last couple of weeks, we now come to the very last two verses of the book and also to the end of our journey with Apostle James.
V19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, v20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
It’s possible to know absolute truth in regard to God’s plan for us and yet wonder from that truth. When we think about athletics, Christian faith is like a marathon and not a relay. It’s a long journey with many obstacles, challenges as well as victories. James is aware that for someone to conquer this journey and win the race, one has to comply with what the master our Lord Jesus Christ desires of us.
The unique thing with this marathon is that you need others and they need you in order to win the race without competing. James now tells us to think about others who are walking through the same journey with us.
There are those who will feel weary along the way and may attempt to wander or drift from the truth. We who are steadfast should bring them back. It always seems difficult to speak to a friend, brother or sister who is going on the wrong direction but the truth is that; in this journey, no one is an exemption and therefore we should all be our brother’s keeper.
“Snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh” (Jude 13).
When we turn others from drifting away from the faith, we are literaturaly saving them from the mouth of death. James's conviction is that sin represents a life-threatening danger, not just a harmless blemish on our otherwise good character. Sin is not to be tolerated complacently; it destroys us. James may have in mind physical death from the illness associated with sin in 5:15. We must therefore note that genuine faith includes repentance for sin and a life of obedience to Christ as Lord.
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