Ever see one of those long Marathons. There are videos all the time of those who drag themselves over the Finish line. They are all beat up. Broken down. Physically exhausted. The last thing they really want to do is keep going.
No. Wait. That is actually ALL they want to do. Nothing else matters. Not the exhaustion. Not the Pain. Not the physical suffering they are feeling at the moment. They know they must finish the Race. It is all that matters.
It is the same in a Christian Life. We are in a Race. Paul tells us this is Philippians 3:12-14
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."All Paul cared about is God, Jesus, and the Gospel. Even though he was...
"Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure." 2 Corinthians 11:24-29Yet? Still? All he cared about was God, Jesus, and the Gospel. He could have quit. He could have given up. Yet he never would. Not to take anything you or I may be going through lightly, but how does it compare to the things Paul was suffering through for no other reason than the Gospel?
This is why he tells us this in Hebrews 12
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."You may have thought Paul's suffering for Christ was bad, think of Christ Himself. As His followers, or Servants of Christ, we may face Suffering. We will face Hatred. Persecution. For no other reason than our Faith in Jesus. Jesus told us this. He warned us ahead of time. Yet, we need not worry about that. About them. We ARE Children of the everlasting God. The time is coming when He will call us home, and all those that hate Him, and us, for His sake, will be Judged according to their own deeds and cast into eternal Damnation.
Think about that for a second. Whatever your view of Hell. Eternal Suffering in whatever form you can imagine. "Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." {Mark 9:48} "Fiery lake of burning sulfur."{Revelation 21:8}"Blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." {Matthew 13:50} "Everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." {2 Thessalonians 1:9} Whatever you choose to believe, or all of it, think about this. What could you EVER do to anyone, that is worthy to even be compared to what they will face in the End Times? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. This is what God tells us this.
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”" Romans 12:19So what are we told to do? Simply endure. Do not grow weary. No matter what. Even if you are going through a time of Correction from the Lord Himself. Yes, He does Discipline His Children.
"Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?No matter what your State. No matter what reason you may feel beaten down. The World coming against you, or perhaps you are in a time of correction from your Heavenly Daddy, I love this. Read on in Hebrews 12:12
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,nor be weary when reproved by him.For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives.”
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord."We have nothing to fear. Not even, and even up to, Death itself. As long as you have accepted Jesus, you are a Child of God. He is your Daddy, and one day, He will call you home. Just Run the Race. Endure to the End. Nothing else really matters.
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.
"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"
That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}
If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}
Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!
No comments:
Post a Comment