Text:

‘Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promise’ – Hebrews 6:12

Thought:

It can be relatively easy to start something; harder to keep it going with the demands and disciplines required. This is why so many New Year Resolutions, exercise programmes and healthy diets are abandoned long before they can make any real difference. In door to door evangelism we come across many who used to go to church regularly, whether it was Sunday School or an adult service, but now never go. Something happened to cause them to stop!

The Book of Hebrews was written to encourage Jewish Christians to continue in their faith in Jesus and not return to the Mosaic Law in order to avoid persecution by the religious authorities. Paul’s letter to the Galatians sought to address the same problem.¹

So what can we do to keep on keeping on when we are tempted or pressurised to change course?

• The importance of Personal Faith – ‘who through faith’

Faith becomes our hope and focus. Faith was responsible for our becoming a Christian – ‘By grace are you saved through faith.’ ²

• The Requirement for Patience – ‘and patience’

It’s all too easy to start off the Christian life full of excitement and then want to give it all up once the pressure is on. Jesus referred to this in the parable of the Sower – ‘he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while.’ ³

Much of today’s advertising is, “Have it now, pay later! No need to wait!” But Christianity is not in a hurry, nor should it be hurried. Stickability is a great quality. Faith brings a goal into our lives and patience keeps our focus on it, however longs it takes.

• The Need for Endurance

Patience and Endurance work together. Patience is the desire, but endurance is the discipline. Patience is the eyes, but endurance is the legs. What can we do to make it easier on our spiritual legs? Hebrews Chapter 12:1-15 gives us some answers.

• Let go of things that weigh us down – ‘lay aside every weight’

The parable of the Sower talks about, ‘The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.’ ⁴

• Avoid sins that get a hold of us – ‘and the sin which so easily ensnares us’

We are tempted and then become trapped! We never thought that giving in to temptation could end up having such a hold on our lives!

• Study successful role models – ‘looking unto Jesus’

Much is made about top athletes being good or bad role models, because millions of people are looking at them through the world’s media. We’re encouraged to look at Jesus – for He was a finisher. ⁵  So was Paul. ⁶  The Bible records people who, although just as human as we are, kept going and did the will of God. We can too! Success lies in the ability to keep going.⁷

• Strengthen areas that are weak – ‘strengthen the hands which hang down and the feeble knees’

Exercise is important for endurance and to help us when we get discouraged. Praying with the Spirit will help to build ourselves up. ⁸

• Don’t deviate from the pathway – ‘make straight paths for your feet’

Runners must take the most direct route in order to win. Beware of short cuts or cutting corners, for these lead to failure. We have to run the race according to the rules. Satan offered Jesus a short cut, ‘If you worship before me, all will be yours.’ ⁹ Quick as a flash Jesus replied, ‘Worship God.’ Compromise has no place when running with endurance.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going! What’s your direction today? Is it in line with God’s calling and will for your life? Or have you deviated being distracted by other things, even trapped by sinful habits? Maybe the demands of being a Christian have simply tired you out.

It’s easier than you think to get back on course. It’s time to refocus and get your eyes back on Jesus. When we spend time with the Lord praying and reading the Bible, we find ourselves strengthened and renewed, ready for what lies ahead.

I don’t want to be numbered among those who gave up, but among the company of Christians who kept going to the end and will hear Jesus say, ‘Well done!’ ¹⁰

¹ – Galatians 1:6-7

² – Ephesians 2:8

³ – Matthew 13:20-21

⁴ – Mark 4:19

⁵ – John 19:30

⁶ – 2 Timothy 4:7

⁷ – Galatians 6:9

⁸ – Jude v20

⁹ – Luke 4:7

¹⁰ – Matthew 25:21