Endurance
Starting a race is not a big deal, as you not only have to do it all the way through, you also have to win. Christian life should not be a hobby or a secondary activity, but should be the greatest goal of life. Because if it’s not a life goal, that person will certainly not succeed.
Unfortunately, many take the Christian life loosely, due to ultra-gracious teachings and a lack of knowledge of God’s word. As Jesus or the disciples have shown, it is vital to always live the Christian life and endure it for the rest of our lives.
There are many who believe that they get the entrance to Heaven by calling Jesus their Lord and calling themselves Christians. That’s all they consider important to gain salvation. But this way of thinking is because of the famous (false) teachers, because the Bible talks about something completely different.
The Heroes of Faith, whose lives we can read in the Tanach, became heroes because they stood in the commandments of God, endured in faith throughout their lives, and believed unwaveringly in the promises of God what they did not see them fulfilled. God has not changed, those who also want to be heroes in the faith; must walk a path and live a life like Noah, Abraham, Job, Moses, or Daniel, and not believe in the lies of false teachers.
We also know the life of Lot, of whom Peter testifies:
2Peter 2:7-9
„and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,”
Today's era is similar to Sodom and Gomorrah, you can find everything that was in the destroyed cities. Their aberrant sexual practice was only one of their sins, the strangers were exploited and killed, they had unjust laws, and one of Lot's daughters was killed for not letting a poor stranger die.
Lot's wife is also condemned by Christians, even though she looked back for her children, as she already had married daughters who were lost in Sodom. Only two virgin daughters were brought out by the angels, the married daughters no longer lived in their parents' house, it would have been better if Lot's sons-in-law did not think Lot's warning was a joke. Jesus said that if someone loves his/her relatives more than Him, is not worthy of Him:
Matthew 10:37
„Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
I think we can say clearly about Lot that he must have had a pretty difficult life, right? Yet he remained a righteous man, for if he had not been a righteous man he would have been lost with the Sodomites. But what excuse can we have if we do not live righteously? Can we point to Jesus that He will solve everything for us? Brethren, no one can go to Heaven sinfully!
Isaiah 26:10
„If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the LORD.”
Some people think of Heroes of Faith that they had an easier life, or that they may have had a special gift/ability that many did not, and so, like the Olympians, achieved what was impossible for others. But this is not a matter of special ability, but a life of devotion and perseverance!
1Corinthians 9:24
„Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”
If we truly believe in God, if our purpose in life is to walk with God (walking in God’s will), let us live that way. Lot did not apologize, like: “Lord, it is impossible to live according to your will among such sinful people,” but remained righteous in his actions and faith. We must not change because of outside influences, we cannot lower the standard because the brethren around us do not take the Christian life seriously enough. Not only do we have to be a little better than others, we have to be righteous! Because being a little better than other brothers and sisters may not make us good enough for God.
Because our life as a Christian is like a door.
Think of a door in front of you. Do you have it? What do you do if you get $5 when you open it?
You grab the handle, but you find it locked. You'd say it's a pity because $5 would have been good. But what do you do if I give you $100 when you open the door? Then you make another try, you press the handle, you pull the door in both directions, maybe you push the door with your shoulder. You sadly agree that you couldn’t open the door, but that $100 would have been great.
But what do you do if I give you $10,000 when you open the door? Then you will take out all your knowledge, strength and tools. But you still can’t open the door, so you’re very sad about your failure, as $10,000 is very big money!
Brethren, the Christian life is far more important. The most important goal! Because what do you do with the door if your child is behind it and the room is on fire? You go through the door at the cost of your life, you don’t look at your limits. It's like following Jesus at all costs!
Antal Farkas
(February 11, 2022)
