No Time or Place to Quit     
 

by R. J. Evans

 

“While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (Psa. 146:2). The above words of the Psalmist reveal his plans to faithfully serve the Lord as long as he lived.  No doubt, he realized that faithfully serving the Lord brings many blessings and joys now, as well as the eternal reward in heaven later.  To be a child of God who faithfully serves the Lord is more important than anything else one can do in this life.  Yet, there are some Christians who are not always faithful to the Lord.  In my own mind, I can think of a large number who I’ve known through the years  who have fallen away and no longer serve God. It is easy serving God when all is going well.  But everyone needs to realize that self-denial and cross-bearing are involved (Matt. 16:12, 15).  The Apostle Paul tells us that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). A child of God must be so careful not to allow the attractions of this world to get in his way  (1 Jn. 2:15-17).  Therefore, all Christians must be sincere and serious about serving God, as well as dependent upon Him for strength.  The wise man stated,  “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small”  (Prov. 24:10). Jesus had so many factors working against Him during His time on this earth, but He never fainted.  Men despised and rejected Him (Isa. 53:3), and ultimately crucified Him.  While on earth He quoted the words which had been prophesied concerning Him in Psalm 69:4 — “They hated Me without a cause”  (Jn. 15:25).  But through it all, in His prayer to His Father, He could say, “I have finished the work which you have given Me to do” (Jn. 17:4).  Nothing ever caused Him to give up and quit! Jesus was faithful all the way because He had a Cause to live and die for— “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God” (Heb. 10:9).  It is for the same Cause that faithful Christians are assured— “that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight” (Heb. 13:20-21).  Moreover, it was doing His Father’s will that concerned Jesus the most.  He stated, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me”  (Jn. 6:38).  We should have the same desire—to always obey and do the will of God. May we always faithfully trust and obey God so that nothing will ever hinder or stop us.  There is just too much at stake.  There is no time nor place to quit!  “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).        Other Articles by R. J. Evans The Mirror Verses the Window The Tragedy of a Lost Soul Good Relationships Among Brethren Are We Committed in Our Marriage? The Blight of Bitterness Murmurers and Complainers Responding to Our Enemies Envy and Jealousy I Am Praying For You The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire     For Past Auburn Beacons go to: www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm   Anyone can join the mailing list for the Auburn Beacon! Send your request to: larryrouse@aubeacon.com