Never Give Up
June 21, 2011
Dear Friends,
Everybody loves a great comeback story. The story of Jesus is perhaps the greatest comeback story of all time. His enemies thoroughly defeated him including having him tortured and executed. Yet, as we all know, that wasn’t the end of the matter.
The Bible is full of these stories. The armies surround Jerusalem where all seems hopeless and then God intervenes to bring improbable victory. Samson is bound and blind, but still manages to exact revenge on his enemies. Elijah is outnumbered 450 to 1 but still manages to defeat the prophets of Baal. Shammah is vastly outnumbered by the Philistines but stops to fight in a beanfield and turn the tide of battle.
These stories teach us many things, but one of the most important lessons they teach us is to never give up. When things look the bleakest and there is no reasonable resolution other than utter defeat, this is the moments when God shines brightest. When the doctors say there is no cure, God can find one. When the bills are due and there isn’t a shekel left in the coffers to pay them, God can pay the bills. When we sin and think that we are beyond the pale of God’s love and forgiveness, God can forgive. What is required on our part is to never give up. Keep the faith. We worship the God of endless possibilities and amazing comebacks.
The Apostle Judas betrayed Christ and gave up. He went out shortly after the crucifixion and killed himself. The Apostle Peter also betrayed Jesus, but unlike his counterpart, wept bitterly and repented. One man gave up and the other didn’t. One man went down in history as the greatest traitor of all time and the other became one of the most beloved men of all time.
The Bible tells us that even late in life a wicked person, if they don’t give up, can repent of their sins and gain salvation.
But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.(Ezek. 18:21-22 NIV)
One of the most disheartening things you can ever witness is when someone gives up on the Kingdom of God. I wrote The Judaizers because I had witnessed so many people, who believed that they had to earn their salvation by works, give up on the impossible task of doing so. By giving up, they stopped reading their Bibles, stopped praying, stopped attending meeting and put themselves in a position where they might never realize that their reasoning was seriously flawed. They had rightly reasoned they would never be good enough to earn the Kingdom but stopped short of the realization that they didn’t have to do it in the first place.
Others give up on the Kingdom because they don’t feel like they can beat an addiction. With God’s help you can! You might be like the children of Israel who had to march around Jericho seven times though. Could God have taken down the wall on the first march around the walls? Of course He could. Yet God felt the children of Israel needed to march around seven times. What would have happened had they marched around six times and quit? We don’t know, but it wouldn’t have been good, would it?
Let me close this week by sharing an inspirational video with you. Click on this link to be inspired.
Have a great week,
Comments»
Kyle,
I absolutely sobbed at this video and to see it in the context in which you placed it, I am once again truly humbled by the love my Heavenly Father had for His son and has for me. Thank you so much (not necessarily for the tears) but the amazing perspective of the love God has for us. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. All my love in Jesus, Sjerry J.
P.s. See I’m so moved I can’t even spell my name.
Well, that was pretty cool! I’m right with Sjerry (whoops – Sherry…)
It is indeed so very important to keep going & the key is to read our Bible carefully & then think VERY hard as to what God would have one do.
One of my favourite Bible passages is Rom 8:28 & it sits on the wall of my office to contemplate when things seem sad.
“And we know all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”.
We are ALL called according to His purpose – as Kyle’s message says, we just have to reach out & accept that & then to be strong when all around us falls. Sometimes that can seem to be by our own actions but if we are focused on our love of God & our Brothers & Sisters (our neigbour as ourselves) we can be encouraged & then be immensely strong – by God’s grace & Power – & know that we are doing right.
Nice thought today Kyle :-)