Don’t Give Up
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12-13, NKJV)
Cross country runners face it, approaching, at last, the long, steep hill climb to complete the race. Boxers in the 7th round feel it when exhaustion burns in their tightening arm muscles. Wrestlers going into the third period of a fierce competition, against a ruthless opponent, know it, and must call up the strength within them to get to the final bell and not get pinned, but get the win.
They can’t quit. They must not give up, even moments before when that prized victory shout is about to happen, while slightly, even so slightly, they consider that it might not come.
A young mother, carrying the ever growing new life within, holds on to make it to the end of the nine long months, hoping, but yet a bit uncertain, if all will come out right, with their child having the ten fingers and the ten toes that will be just perfect.
Even the pastor of 12 years, having given as much as he thought he had to give out, must not stop and give up, nor give in. He must still call upon the name of the Lord, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. He must keep looking to the One who started him on this journey, and not let discouragement and lack of results end the still young man’s initial dream.
We all will face the temptation to call it quits, to end what was started, having begun with so many large expectations, only to look back and think it will never, ever happen. Those big plans and deep desires, instilled years before, seem to be fading away, with the sun setting once again, ending the day the way it began.
Through it all, we must not quit. We must not let the daily grind wear us down, wring us out, or leave us laying on the side of the road. Despair, hopelessness, exhaustion, nor failed dreams must not keep us from that which our Lord Jesus has called us to. With the power of the Holy Spirit working within us, we can fight the good fight, rise to the call on our lives, and finish that which He has started.
How? With His ever-present grace, His unending mercy, and through His love which is continually poured out on us His beloved. That is how we can do it. That is who we are because that is Who He made us to be.
Whether you are 18, going on 37, or have reached the “60 and older” plateau of life, we can, we must, we will be continually assured that the One who saved us, redeemed us, called us into His life to share with us, will keep us and deliver us to the glory that awaits us at the end.
We cannot do it on our own, but He can and will do that which He has planned and purposed for us. His sure promises of fulfilling those deep desires, the heavenly hopes, the daily dreams that He Himself put within us at the beginning of time, will come to pass. Of this, I am certain, for He truly is the Faithful God we serve.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” (Revelations 19:11-12, NASU)
Our Lord is not sitting upon His throne, just watching to see if we are going to make it. He is actively involved, certain of the beginning and the end, and will ride in victory once His eternal plan is completed. And through it all, He is protecting, directing, establishing and fulfilling His will in each of our lives, bringing encouragement and certainty as we keep our eyes fixed on Him.
This we can be assured of. For the Bible tells us so.
Don’t give up. Don’t quit before the light of day comes forth. Keep pressing on and grab hold of the beautiful plan He has for our lives. It may be tough at times, but the end is going to be worth it all.
Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
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Now Think On This #358 - in the year of our Lord 10.25.18 – “Don’t Give Up”, Thursday, 5:05 am
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