Faithfulness Unto Death – Part Two
In an environment known for a lack of commitment our Lord appeals: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2: 10b)
Before reviewing your personal faithfulness under the microscope of this text we are reminded “Faithful is He who has called you…” (I Thess. 5: 24).
We are following the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Leading His people is nothing new to our God. Caring for His followers is assured by His bountiful provisions. Jesus has been walking with His people for over 2,000 years. He is not out of ideas. He’s not even running low. He is no less powerful today than the day He said, “Let there be light, and there was light.”
Faithfulness is exhorted in our text against the background of four major challenges. Thus, it becomes instantly obvious faithfulness is not simply a response of gratitude for blessings. It is as a consequence of devotion to our unchanging Lord.
The word translated “tribulation” means crushing pressure. A hint of the kind of pressure is indicated by two names being used in the text for the devil. One is “Satan,” a direct translation from the Greek word “Satan” which means “adversary.” The other is translated “devil,” which comes from the Greek “diabolas” literally “slanderer.” These titles indicate we are challenged.
Satan is our adversary, our opponent, who slanders. That is his nature and he inspires people to use his techniques. Have you ever been slandered? It is most painful. How is one to respond? Christ answers, “Be faithful…”
Tribulation can be a tributary to triumph. Psychologist Dr. Marie Benoyn Ray has made a study of the relationship between handicaps and achievement. Assuming a handicap to be one form of tribulation, apply the findings to all tribulation. It was:
“No one succeeds without a handicap.
No one succeeds in spite of a handicap.
Everyone succeeds because of a handicap.”
In other words, solid attainment doesn’t come out of the absence of struggle, but can always be traced to it. The things that are against us are often the best things for us.
Resolve to be faithful in a depraved society remembering, “Faithful is He Who has called you” (I Thess. 5: 24).
Faithfulness Unto Death – Part One
Jesus is appropriately spoken of as being “the faithful witness” (Rev. 1: 5). It was He who said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2: 10b).
As your mind scans His life from the wilderness temptations to the last agonizing utterance from the cross, He is observed to have been faithful.
An appeal for faithfulness in an era when commitment is uncommon may seem futile. However, in every age there are those who break free from the norm of the time and faithfully forget themselves into immortality. With the banner of uncommitment flying over the castle of many hearts there are still those who are willing to pay the price for being faithful.
Breaking ranks with the common drummer, many courageous young people as well as adults are dauntlessly devoted to Jesus.
In the fields of commerce and industry, where compromise and a lack of commitment abound, there are those who faithfully remain loyal to our Lord.
With virtually all forms of entertainment encouraging noncommitment and depicting unfaithfulness, many are being swept into the vortex of the sewer of self-indulgence. That makes those who dare swim against the tide and remain faithful all the more admirable.
The word faithful, in summary, speaks of persons setting their priorities and sticking by them. It is a bold declaration of “Here I stand. I can do none else.” It is a structuring of one’s social, business, and spiritual calendar to put Jesus first and sticking with it.
That is an exhortation to excellence. Joan of Arc, of whom one wrote: “She chose her path and went down it like a thunderbolt.”
In the Old Testament faithfulness unto death is characterized by Joshua of whom it was said, “He looked neither to the right nor to the left.” He faithfully stayed on course.
A peerless New Testament example “stick-to-a-tive-ness” is our Lord. He neither waffled or wavered on His earth walk to Calvary.
From the world of sports comes insight into the importance of commitment. Vince Lombardi, former coach of the Green Bay Packers, once observed: “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his chosen field of endeavor.”
In light of these truths “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” Hebrews 10:23.
Renewal Awaits Response – Part Two
“Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:28-31
Robinson Crusoe, wrecked on a lonely island, made a list of adversities: Lost on a desolate island, cut off from society, no clothes, no defense, no one with whom to talk.
He made a list consisting of two columns called evil and good. He concluded he was cut off BUT he didn’t drown like others, banished BUT not starving; no clothes BUT a warm climate, no defense BUT none needed; no companion BUT all the necessities. When you make your life of misfortunes, parallel it with one noting your good fortune.
Consider emulating Crusoe’s list and making your own two columns.
For most, an object list of “good” would exceed the “evil.”
A Texas business man with a sense of humor and a spirit of thankfulness sent in for a copyright at the Library of Congress. It was for a book he had written intending to give it to customers. The book was entitled, “A Million Thanks.” You guessed it. The book consisted of the one word “thanks” repeated a million times. “No thanks,” said the Library of Congress, a single word isn’t copyrightable. Yet, it deserves to be offered to our Heavenly Father.
Throughout Psalm 107 is found a key word regarding our turning to the Lord and His response. It is the simple word “then.” In most cases as long as we don’t really need God we don’t call on Him. When all resources are depleted “then” we call on Him in our distress and He proves Himself. Thank God for the “then” moments in your life.
The 107 Psalm describes the plight of persons in a storm tossed sea. Verses 25 – 27 notes the reason He is needed to calm the storm: “They are at their wits’ end” (Vs. 27c). Have you been there? If so experientially you know then “He calms the storm” (Vs. 29).
Sometimes all we have to go on are the promises of God. He gives us His promises for a purpose. He gives us His promises to allow us to prove Him.
On your list of good and evil include the factor they noted which was, “Thanks be to God for His UNSPEAKABLE gift.” It just won’t go into words.
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” We now know His most wonderful unspeakable work was enabled by the work of Jesus on the cross.
Renewal Awaits Response – Part One
“Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:28-31
Jesus, the recently resurrected Lord of life and death, sent a message to His disgraced and denying disciple, Simon Peter, which was in essence, “Meet me at the Sea of Galilee.” Why? Because it was time for a restart. Young John Mark deserted Paul and Silas on a missionary journey. In effect Jesus said to him, “Lift up your chin and pick up your pen. Let’s start over again. I’ve got a gospel for you to write.”
To say Jesus is the God of a second chance is to limit Him. He is the loving God of the second chance and more. He is the God of renewal.
Baron Von Hugel, an influential Austrian religious writer and Christian apologist, said: “It is harder for a healthy person to be religious than for one whose body is ‘a constant failure.’”
Why? The Lord wants to use our adversities to our advantage. We can signal our willingness for Him to bless and use us by showing an attitude of gratitude. The above text describes the response to the Lord in a time of trouble.
Psalm 107: 1 – 3 is an exhortation to give thanks. Giving thanks to God is the most we can give Him and the least we should. We should do so for two reasons as noted in verse 1.
“He is good…” It is His nature. Water is always wet, fire is always hot, and God is always good. He is good to us and for us.
There is a recurring theme in Psalm 107 found in verses 8, 15, 21, and 31: “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.”
“His mercy endures forever.” God’s grace is His favor being given to us. His mercy is His protection preventing bad things coming to us.
Because of His goodness He supplies us and because of His mercy He spares us many things of which we are unaware.
Psalms 107: 28, 31 took this into account and explains why not all of life is sailed on a smooth sea. It is so we will trust Him and He can reveal Himself to us.
Our Lord wants to use our advantages and our adversities to draw us to Himself. He is the God of renewal, daily renewal. Regardless of your faithfulness or failures He awaits your response in order to renew you. As renewal enabled the Lord to use Paul and Mark so it will enable Him to bless and use you.
Bear One Another’s Burdens
Have you ever noticed how few people are interested in what you are interested in? How many people have you shown interest in things they are interested in? Oops!
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load” (Galatians 6: 2 – 5).
A conflict seems to exist between verses 2 and 5: “Bear one another’s burdens,” and “Each one shall bear his own burden.”
In verse 2 the word translated burden is “baros” meaning “grief.” These are burdens of the heart. For example sorrows. We should help people bear their sorrows.
In verse 5 the word translated burden, “phortion,” means responsibility. These are burdens of personal responsibility, duties for which they are accountable. Persons should do the things for which they are responsible and not expect others to do them on their behalf.
Some social parasites can’t be helped because they won’t help themselves.
Often sympathetic Christians get the two mixed and as do-gooders want to fix everything for everyone. That is not good lest a class of leeches develops. Such has developed in our society. There is a class of persons who don’t want to work, but rather want the government to work for them and provide for them that which they can provide for themselves. Compassion compels us to want to provide for persons unable to provide for themselves. There is a difference between those who can’t and those who won’t.
It is good to show interest and offer support for people dealing with issues of the heart, emotions.
How many people have you been able to show interest in their interest? In doing so be wise in differentiating between concerns (vs. 2) and conduct (vs. 5).
Between the above verses 2 and 5 is verse 4 which exhorts us to examine our own works in light of Scripture. Romans 14: 12 tells us how to do it, “So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.”
“Each one shall bear his own burden…” Each one includes all of us. That is, we each have our own responsibilities. We are to avoid being lazy or careless about our own responsibilities and not expect others to do them for us.
Reflect on the above difference in verse 2 and verse 5.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6: 2