Tag Archives: Belief

Run the Race and Finish Strong

30 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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ID-100354832.jpgA marathon is a type of race that involves long distance running. Athletes participate with the intent to complete what may seem like to outsiders a monumental task. Each participant understands that it isn’t about winning the race or achieving a top position. The ultimate goal is to endure until the end.

As each runner goes forth, they battle through pain, fatigue, and the ever present thoughts of quitting before the race ends. However, the belief in each person’s heart and mind is that they are able to cross the finish line. There are even those who experience injury and complete exhaustion and yet they push forward until the very end. It is the accomplishment of completing a marathon that matters the most.

Spiritually speaking, we all face our own marathon experience throughout life. Both to the believer and unbeliever, life does not conceal or limit its challenges. However the great news is that with Christ anyone can have an opportunity to run their race with endurance and strength. The offer of guidance and faith is available, even to those who are among the godless.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 12, verses 1-2 says the following:

(NLV) “All these many people who have had faith in God are around us like a cloud. Let us put everything out of our lives that keeps us from doing what we should. Let us keep running in the race that God has planned for us. Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God.”

The author of the book of Hebrews remains unknown to this day, however, some believe that the Apostle Paul may have written this book. This book was written to Christians who were experiencing persecution at which the writing of this epistle took place between 65 to 85 A.D.

In verse 1 of this chapter, the writer makes reference to those who had faith in God who surround those in Christ as a cloud. Other translations say a “great cloud of witnesses.” If you read chapter 11 of Hebrews, you will see the individuals who were noted as those who had faith in God. Individuals such as Noah, Enoch, Abraham and Sarah were known to have been enshrined in what is known as the ‘Hall of Faith.’

However, the admonishment from the writer is to Christians to first, put aside everything that creates an impediment. Some translations use the word ‘sin’ in order to make the point of obedience and surrender unto God. This writer makes this point because if we who are in Christ are going to please God, we must first rid ourselves of the sin in our life.

This means, that we must seek God for forgiveness and allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Believe it or not, sin can be a hindrance to you because it creates a separation between you and God. We are unable to adequately accomplish great things for God as long as we have allowed sin to flourish and have a residence in our life.

In verse 1 the writer continues by saying that we must run in the race that God has planned for us. Other translations say to “run the race with patience.” In any case, all of us have a race or a path that God has carved out for us to run. Your path is different from my path, but God has designed a race specifically for you. The key is that we must run the race and do so with patience.

Sometimes, circumstances arise in life that has the potential to cause you to quit. However, the encouragement is not to quit but to run through the process. The writer also says in verse 2 that we are to look unto to Jesus. This means that when we are facing fiery trials, we must keep our eyes focused on Christ.

Regardless of how difficult a season may be, the key is to look to the Lord because He is your strength even when you have none left. Verse 2 continues when it says, “Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect.” Faith comes when our lives are surrendered to God. Our job is to believe, but it is God who increases our faith if we believe that He is able to accomplish anything we are seeking Him for.

Our faith is also perfected and sharpened as we continue to live in obedience unto Christ. The final part of verse 2 makes note of Jesus Christ and the cross. The writer is essentially saying that Jesus did not give up when he faced shame and even death on the cross. Rather, Jesus understood that the victory would be won if He was obedient even unto death. As the scripture points out in the last portion, now Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God.

This essentially means that we who believe and follow Jesus, we too have an opportunity to receive the victory. Anyone can run in a marathon, but to finish and finish strong is what invokes a sense of victory and accomplishment. I have my own race in life that I am running, but I realize that it is through my faith in God and obedience unto Him, that I am able to accomplish all things through Christ as Philippians 4:13 says.

It may be tempting for you to give up, and perhaps you have contemplated it. Maybe you are experiencing a difficult situation in your life and you want to quit. The message is to you, and that message is to look to Jesus for your faith and strength. Jesus Christ is the Rock and He is the one who will give you the endurance to finish and finish strong.

Those who give up, forfeit their inheritance and their blessing. The writer encourages us as Christians to walk in righteousness and to turn to Jesus for our faith. If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord & Savior, then you are running the race without guidance. You too have a race to run, but God wants you to run with Him and on His path.

Accept Christ’s gift of life by acknowledging your sin and by believing that He died on the cross. By accepting Jesus into your life, you are able to run this race with God’s help. All of us must run this race and finish strong. You and I are able to do so only through Jesus Christ.

Defending the Faith

28 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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cross-sword-and-shield-mdWarfare is a concept and a reality that has existed for centuries. Many wars have been fought for justifiable reasons and there have been many wars that were unjustified. However, in every war that has taken place, the element of defending one’s position and territory has been at the forefront of the war itself. The objective of any war is for one side to be victorious over the other, however, the common factor is that both sides are usually defending what they are in pursuit of.

To defend territory or a position is to actively stand against an adversary who threatens to advance which means gaining control or power. In Christendom, a popular scripture that is often quoted comes from Ephesians 6:12 which says:

(KJV) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The above scripture is meant to focus on the aspect of warring or fighting a spiritual battle. This part of life is something that we are engaged in daily which is a spiritual battle. However, there is another aspect that we are to focus on as Christians even in the realm of spiritual warfare and that is ‘defending the faith.’ What is defending the faith and what does the Bible tell us about it?

1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 15 references the term ‘defense’ and the concept of defending the faith. The term ‘defense’ is not necessarily used in every translation but the concept remains the same. The context in this part of the chapter was to encourage Christians to defend the faith regardless of the opposition from unbelievers. The Apostle Peter wanted Christians to know that in the event that persecution occurs we are to defend what it is that we believe and our stance in Christ.

Verses 14-16:

(ESV) “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”

Peter says we are to “always be prepared to make a defense” which means we who are in Christ are to stand against the opposition. The fact is that Christians are given a charge to defend the faith which is an active stance against those who oppose. Many have unfortunately taken the position of restraining or containing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In today’s social climate, it has become the norm to relegate one’s belief or stance to oneself rather than imposing on anyone else.

However, the imposition of the Gospel or the faith is not to be squelched but to be shared with the lost. We should defend the faith because in such a defense we are showing forth our allegiance unto God and the things of God. There is a term that also aligns with defending the faith and it is ‘apologetic.’ This is a theological term which means to give a rational defense for the Christian faith. The word ‘apologetic’ can be broken down into the Greek form which is ‘apologia’ which means to give a reason or defense.

When we as Christians are challenged by the culture, we are not to run unashamedly nor are we to capitulate with what the social and even spiritual climate dictates. We are living in a time period in which the false doctrine both in many churches and even in society has become acceptable. Secular humanism, the influence of Islam, agnosticism and various religions have become taken as truth rather than seeing each as an extension of what satan wants to use to pervert and ultimately deceive.

However, those who are truly in Christ must be willing to defend the faith and stand for God’s truth regardless of what the cost may be. However, notice how we are to do so according to verse 15:

“yet do it with gentleness and respect”

Even in speaking the truth to those who are in darkness we must do so with gentleness and respect. Calling something out for what it is can be done respectfully because it means that it is being done in love towards the person. Many have embraced the belief that mentioning Hell and even the aspect of sin should be avoided. Not telling a person who is in danger of destruction is much worse that the backlash and opposition that will be given.

Instead, Christians are called to defend the faith or to give a reason as to why we believe. We are also called to give those who are lost the truth of Jesus Christ. However, we must do so with gentleness and respect which means that our tone should be truthful but also with a caring disposition which emanates from our relationship with Christ. The fact about eternal damnation can be given to the world without it utterly destroying the person in the process.

The goal of reaching those in Christ isn’t to speak with words of vitriol but to simply give those in their sin the lifeline who is Jesus Christ. The truth of God will convict which is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to deliver the message as it is by giving the consequences of what will occur if a person in sin does not receive the intervention of Jesus Christ. We are not to add or remove anything from the the Word of God.

At the end of the day, the defense of the faith is necessary because both salvation and the reality of Hell and eternal separation from God are crucial nuggets of truth for every person. While our society continues to erode in sin, there must be those who are willing to stand firm and defend the truth of God. Not to do so would mean that we as Christians have given up not only our position but our territory to the enemy.

Satan wants to eliminate every opportunity for someone’s eyes to be opened to the truth. We as Christians must give the world a reason as to why it is that we believe in God. Why should holiness and an abstinence from sin be the way that we as Christians live? Why is it that social issues such as homosexuality and abortion should be openly addressed by those who are in Christ instead of remaining in silence? Why is it that God’s Word and an adherence to it is to be applied to one’s life?

For every Christian, the answer lies in verse 15 in which Peter says, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy.” This is not only expected of each Christian, but it is a command. The reason is because everything that we do we do so out of reverence unto Jesus Christ because He is Holy. With honoring His holiness, there is an expectation that we would then defend the truth of God in the midst of opposition and deception. The point is to go after those who are in their sin and give them God’s Word.

Our concern isn’t whether or not someone is offended by God’s truth because believe it or not there will be those who find God’s truth offensive. This is not contradictory with the statement of being gentle and respectful. The reason is because those who are in their sin will naturally reject any truth that God provides. It is only when a person’s heart is open and a choice has been made to surrender that such truth will convict and open their blinded eyes.

The concern of every Christian should be to model the example of Jesus Christ and to give the Gospel to all of humanity. Many have unfortunately remained in silence for a fear of rejection and not wanting to be challenged by those in sin. However, the defense of our faith requires that we challenge the opposition since the opposition is so adamant about challenging those in Christ.

Jesus Christ is the lifeline for every lost soul, but it is a choice that one makes to accept or reject the gift of life. Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, then you are in sin and you need a savior. Jesus is the one and only one who can save you from your sinful condition. Accept this gift of life and allow your life to be made whole through the redeeming power of the cross.