Pressing forward

These days, we sense life is short.  We are quick to throw in the towel when things get hard:  jobs, relationships, bankruptcies. We give up instead of making sacrifices and seeing things through.

The time appears short for the Lord’s return.  We sense impending doom and grasp for whatever pleasures we can reach.  James 4:13-14 encourages these thoughts:  Since we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, let’s go to another town and make money. What is the value of our lives?  A vapor, that appears for a short time, and vanishes.  (Ecclesiastes 8:15, Luke 12:19)

Many start toward the kingdom and are distracted by circumstance like the seed in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13) that fell among weeds which symbolize the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches choking the word.

When we see ourselves as eternal beings and not just a flash in the pan, we can breathe, we can rest and appreciate the value of perseverance and servanthood.

The Israelites, after God delivered them from Egypt and they crossed the Red Sea on dry land,  began to complain as they remembered the leeks and onions they had enjoyed in Egypt.  Their hearts looked back.

Lot’s wife left Sodom and Gomorrah with her husband and her daughters.  As she walked, she reflected on the life she lived there with regret.  As her heart looked back, so did her eyes and she became a pillar of salt.  She never gained the freedom she aspired to as she followed the angel of the Lord.

Elijah called Elisha to his new position of prophet by throwing his mantle on him in (1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21) and realized he put Elisha in jeopardy when Elisha’s first response was to look back to his former life even briefly. Elisha followed Elijah, refusing to be left behind until the day Elijah was taken up in a fiery chariot in a whirlwind dropping his mantle to Elisha whose reward was a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.  Elisha performed twice as many miracles as his mentor, Elijah. (2 Kings 2:1-2,6-14)

(Luke 9:51) When the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. He met someone who wanted to follow him.  He remarked that hesitation in following him can cost a person, stating a person who starts with Christ and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.  (Luke 9:62) 

After telling the crowds that they would eat his body (the bread of life) and drink his blood (the cup of salvation), many quit following him.  Jesus then turned to his disciples, (John 6:67) then said Jesus unto the 12, Will ye also go away?  (68) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.  They persevered even when things seemed scary.

We must follow Christ with the same focus and depth of commitment. We must not “turn . . .  aside to the right hand nor to the left.” (Proverbs 4:27, Joshua 1:7 and 23:6 and Deuteronomy 5:32)

Paul writing to the Philippians framed the choice:  (Philippians 3:13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Each of us confronts this choice almost daily.  Will we quit?  Give up?  Or will we choose to continue for the long haul?  Not many married couples achieve 50 or more years.  Lasting love is born in choice, fertilized by action and watered by perseverance. Depth of love cannot be fathomed.  The value of relationship is beyond measure.

(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)