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Yesterday, we focused on the word "perseverance", or Christian guts, which is the power to see things through.To be a drop out is a character defect. If you fall, get up and get going again. I once saw on T.V. in one of the Olympic finals of yester- year: it could have been the 5,000 metres, or more; an unbelievable event. My memories of it are fresh although the details are not because it was some years ago. I saw one of the world's greatest runners trip and fall and the commentator screeched "He's down, and he's out." But the runner got up and set off after the field, and he gradually overhauled them and one by one overtook them. It was as if Hollywood were directing the scene. He strode on to win! Well, the image of the early Olympic Games which can be seen in Hebrews 12:1-2 says that since we are surrounded by such a vast crowd of martyrs who have run their race and are now in the grandstands, let us run the race for which we have entered. It's our turn to strip off every ounce of excess weight and run the course marked out for us with perseverance. Even when you fall- rise:even when you drop - don't drop out. Get up and keep going. To finish well takes stickability and determination and guts.
During the last war they came up with a powerfully effective drug called M & B 693. What if the researchers at May & Baker had given up after 690 failures? You couldn't have blamed them, it was 693rd attempt which worked and paid off.
There come times in everyone's life when we are tempted to drop out and simply give up the struggle, and at such times we cry to God "It's no use - I can't go on - I've had enough ..." and other self-pitiful phrases; but this is the opportunity to develop our spiritual muscles. Only the Bible dares to say this:
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered .....Hebrews 5:7-8
If you are saying "Why me?" : In that marvellous old film 'Zulu', when a small Welsh company of British soldiers were surrounded by thousands of hostile Zulus, one of the waiting, terrified troops hysterically called to the rock like Staff Sergeant "Why us?", and quickly came the solid answer "Because we're here lad, because we're here".
Where ever you are today, you are there by God's permission. Get on with it!
A Prayer:
Gracious God, you have blessed us with a vision of your Kingdom: grant us grace to persevere towards it, that no disappointment nor adversity may turn us aside, until we see your kingdom come.
Now read Hebrews 11:8-19
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