Disposable Faith?

Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

-Hebrews 10:32-37 (New Living Translation)

Why is it so hard and difficult to keep going and see things through? How many of the great buildings and great places would be in existence today if the person building it would have quit half way through the project? When I lived in Florida, I loved going to Walt Disney World. What if Roy Disney would have stopped building WDW after the completion of Main Street USA? No Tomorrowland. No Frontierland. No Adventureland. No Fantasyland. No Epcot. You get the picture. If Roy did that, then WDW would not be the vacation mecca that it is today. What about our faith and life in Christ? What if we just quit when the going gets tough. That, I think, is the question the writer of Hebrews is presenting here.

Verse 32 says, "Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering." The early days of your faith are often blissful. We remember the feeling of being right with God, and we were ready, willing and able to suffer for our faith. Fast forward 5, 10 or 20 years. Are you still ready, willing and able to suffer for that faith? Are you ready, willing and able to remain faithful to God in any and all circumstances? The end of verse 34 says, "You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever." That is the confidence you and I must have to remain faithful in difficult times. Verse 35 warns us, "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!" Don't throw away your confidence in Christ because of a momentary trouble. Verse 36 says, "Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." Endurance is what many of us need today. We need endurance to continue in the will of God for our lives. Then, and only then, after we complete the will of God for our lives, we'll receive what was promised.

Is your faith still growing today? Or, have you quit half way through? Nothing gets accomplished in a quitter. Is that you today? Think About It.