Skip to main content

Don't Give Up

             Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.  You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.  So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  (Hebrews 10:32-36)

Remember when you started that project, hobby, or relationship? There might have been some fear but there was probably more excitement.   There were probably people who got in the way, you were going to do this thing, whatever it was. Then, as time passed, the thrill dissipated, the pain and fatigue caused by opposition got to you. I’m reminded of what I call the “Yuck Factor” when the creative project begun seems to be irredeemably flawed, and whatever talent you may thought you’d had has resulted in disappointment. You’re never going to learn, it’s never going to work, etc.

This is a natural part of the process of learning, growing, creating, and doing anything new. The recipients of the letter to the Hebrews had faced hardship when they first turned to Christ, and they stood firm. But time passed, and doubts crept in. The victory you thought you’d had may have been there for a time, but now it’s tarnished or missing.

The warning the author of Hebrews gives those to whom he wrote (including us) is to not throw away that sense of excitement, dedication, joy, or whatever. It may not feel as if the remaining tiny flame is worth it, but we are to stoke the fire anyway. It might be what keeps us alive. Continuing to trudge along may be what gets us to take the one more step that will take us to where we’ll see an inspiring view. Hitting the nail one more time may be what drives it into the wood. And even if what we’re doing seems to be for nothing (at the moment,) if we keep going, we may find it precious.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...