Thursdays are often the
longest day of the week for me, the middle of the pastor’s week, the ‘make
or break’ day for weekend preparation. This morning while I was getting focused
for the day I thought of the child’s tale about staying in the race.
Remember
Aesop's fable about a race between a tortoise and a hare? The speedy rabbit challenged the old turtle to
a race. How could he lose? With so much
of an edge in speed, over his heavy-shelled, short-legged friend, he knew his
victory was inevitable. Turtle accepted the challenge because he knew something,
too. Mr. Rabbit was over-confident,
lacking character! You know the story,
right. The hare turned off the course to find a shade tree and catch a nap. “I’ll just wake up and speed past my old
friend and win the race,’ he thought as he snoozed. Meanwhile, the turtle just kept pushing along,
not stopping. When rabbit awakened and ran to the finish line, he found turtle
waiting for him with a bit of advice - 'slow and steady wins the race!' It is a good Thursday morning story for me. Sometimes we paraphrase the lesson – “You
snooze, you lose.”
Paul says it this way: "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power … put on the full armor
of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your
ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:10,13,
NIV) Stand your ground! Do everything you can! Then, take God’s strength and keep on standing!
We love those who are attractive – physically. We admire
those with charisma. We are often prone
to trust those who 'look' like winners. Mere mortals, the majority of us, are
sometimes deceived by the lie that we cannot compete in the race, that we will
never win, because we do not look like a winner or because we have too much
baggage. Look around! Stars may get the attention, but the
faithful plodders usually carry the heaviest part of the load in life. Finishers
often compensate for what they lack in 'star power' with hard work, networking, and
showing up every day, on time, ready to do what they are asked to do.
In the end, when the star has burnt out or moved on; the steady one is still
standing.
God needs steady plodders in His Kingdom who are finishing
the race. What does that look like? They work at their marriage for God’s glory.
They love and teach their children for God’s glory. They develop and use their
spiritual gifts, for God’s glory. They practice the disciplines of the Spirit,
for God’s glory. They show up whether
they feel like it or not.
We are drawn our culture's myth that there is a ‘secret' that
will make life work without struggle. We find it difficult to believe that sin
and evil are real, opposed to everything good and godly. But, the Word tells us
that are engaged in a fight to the finish.
We are called to soldier on in the struggle with the World, the Flesh,
and the Devil! Conflict, by definition, is exhausting. The Devil seeks to kill and destroy. The systems
of this world that surround us are corrupt and oppose the will of God which
includes living a life of love, integrity, humility, faithfulness, and
sacrificial service. Our own internal desires are often at odds with the call
of the Spirit to holiness. We all struggle with temptation to lust, or greed,
or laziness, or pride! The Christian life is a pilgrimage, as we walk through a
world that is not our home.
The good news is
that we do not stand alone! The Spirit of God is with us, right here,
right now. He gives strength to the faithful who seek Him. The Bible calls
on us to endure: to keep on walking in His strength even when we just want to
lay down and rest. Paul reminds us: "I am willing to endure anything if it will
bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This
is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we
endure hardship, we will reign with him." (2 Timothy 2:10-12, NLT)
Keep walking! Here is a steady, standing word of wisdom from
God's Holy Word. "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for
God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one
another to acts of love and good works. ... So do not throw away this confident
trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance
is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will
receive all that he has promised." (Hebrews 10:23-24, 35-36, NLT) “If you hang in there, you will be able to
say, at the very end of this earthly life: "This is the only race worth
running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that's
left now is the shouting—God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge.
He'll do right ... by everyone eager for his coming." (2 Timothy
4:7-8, The Message)
Stand your ground! Do everything you can! Then, take God’s
strength and keep on standing!
_____________
How Firm A Foundation (Foundation)
How firm a foundation,
ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith
in His excellent word!
What more can He say
than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge
to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with
thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I
will still give thee aid!
I'll strengthen thee,
help thee,
And cause thee to
stand
Upheld by My gracious,
omnipotent hand.
© Words: Public Domain
