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We want a faith
that will sustain us all of our lives (Revelation 2:10). We know that
without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews11:6). After we come to believe
in God there are a number of things that can happen to our faith. We need to
know them.
There will be
opportunities for us to fall away from our faith.
In the first
century there were some Christians who tried to return to the law given by
Moses. Paul warned them if they did that they would fall away from the faith
(Galatians 5:4).
Seducing
spirits and doctrines of demons were warned against (1 Timothy 4:1). When we
visited the Orient in 1965 we saw people engaging in demon worship.
In every age
of the world there has been those who loved money. Paul warned about this (1
Timothy 6:10). Jesus warned us about the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew
13:22). Jesus said we should never trust riches (Mark 10:23,24).
Our own lusts
may turn us away from God (James 1:15; see also 1 John 2:15,16). The devil
tried to divert Jesus from God by tempting Him in those three ways (Matthew
4:1-11).
David said he
laid up God’s word in his heart so he would not sin (Psalms 119:11). God’s
word is called a sword of the Spirit, and we can use it to fight the devil
(Ephesians 6:17).
To survive
with our faith we must live by it (Romans 1:17). Jude reminded us to keep
building up ourselves in the faith (Jude 20). We can stand fast in our faith
when we do (1 Corinthians 16:13). With God’s word, called the sword of the
Spirit, we can fight a good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). That will make
it possible for us to be sound, healthful, in the faith (Titus 1:13).
Our goal for
our faith is worth every effort and sacrifice we make for it. We rejoice in
this (Luke 10:20). Until we are ready to receive the final rewards of faith
knowing our names are written in heaven keeps us going.
I believe in
God, Christ, and His word so strongly from the evidence God speaks to us.
The promises
found in God’s words are very real to me. For instance, Jesus said if we
seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, He would supply our needs
(Matthew 6:33). I have been doing that since my youth, and God has supplied
all of my needs. That experience with God makes it easy for me to believe in
God, and anticipate Him keeping all He has promised me.
When the
Apostle Paul faced death he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have
finished the course, I have KEPT THE FAITH: henceforth there is laid up for
me the crown of righteousness,” (2 Timothy 4:7,8). We have the same
assurance. When Paul closed his physical eyes in death he opened his
spiritual eyes in glory. Read 2 Peter 1:11.
Keep studying
the Bible. Keep doing all you can for the Lord, and you will be prepared to
live with God forever! Faithful unto death is our goal.
Harvey
Childress, servant of Jesus Christ |
