Bible Will I Find: That Christians Are To "Keep On Keeping On?" By: Gary Colley
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Many Christians find it difficult to “keep on keeping on” under the opposing forces. There are many assaults leveled against the reputation and character, of Christians who are striving to live righteously “in Christ Jesus” (Tit.2:11-12). Misjudgments and false gossip are hard to over come. Some of our “friends” who hear these attacks are so weak they refuse to check out the false witness! However, Christians must not allow the Devil and his imps to turn us away from doing the Will of the Father (Matt.7:21). We must “keep on keeping on” and live faithfully unto death that we may enjoy the crown of life (Rev.2:10). No matter what the opposition, it is always right to “follow in the steps” of Christ our Savior, and then to commit our lives to “him that judgeth righteously” (I Pet.2:21-23). There is not enough time to do the will of the Father and also stop our work to chase down and stop all of the rumormongers. Inspired Paul who suffered so much for the cause of Christ against many enemies (II Cor.11:21-28), correctly exhorts “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal.6:9). He also directed encouraging words to those about to apostatize, “Wherefore life up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed” (Heb.12:12-13). Nehemiah furnishes a wonderful example of how we should react when enemies are trying to discourage, stop our work, and destroy us (Neh.4). While rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, Sanballat, Tobiah, and other enemies “took great indignation and mocked” the work (Neh.4:1). They attempted to use ridicule and scoffing to turn these Godly people from their work. When these things failed, they tried to minimize and criticize to the extent of saying the work was so weak “a fox could break it down” (Neh.4:3). Did this stop the work of Nehemiah and his workers? It did not stop them, nor did this type of devilish work affect the men and women mentioned in the honor-roll of faith given in Hebrews 11. Paul warned the elders of Ephesus that even some from among themselves some would seek to divide and destroy the work of the faithful (Acts 20:28-32). These would not choose to fight face to face, but as cowards they desired to come in and stab laborers in the back as they worked! We are not to let the enemies of the cross of Christ pull us down off of the wall! Let us continue to “fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life” (I Tim.6:12). God will reward those who act against His cause with punishment (II Thess.1:7-9). Onward Christian soldiers!--Gary Colley