I overheard some of the conversation of two college girls that went with us to Brazil. They were discussing a Portuguese phrase they had seen on several cars in Natal: “Deus e fiel” – which means “God is faithful.” These young ladies were recounting the many ways God had proven faithful in their own lives. How it must please our Father in Heaven to hear young people declare His faithfulness. I think it pleases Him when people of any age acknowledge this part of God’s character. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is a powerful hymn of the Church.
God can’t help but be faithful – that is who He is. Paul told Timothy, “Here is a trustworthy saying: ‘If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will disown us; If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.’”
Wouldn’t you like to be defined by your faithfulness to Christ and His Body? The challenge for me is the challenge the coach often gives his players: “Don’t quit! Endure! Finish strong!” And the opponent whispers: “Let up! Give up! It’s OK to quit!” It is easy to predict the disaster an athlete invites with a ‘shrinking’ attitude, but what about the disciple?
The apostles seemed to know they had to go the distance: “Not that I have obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Jesus not only saved us, He took hold of us – for a purpose. His instructions are simple and each believer must listen to His voice and ask for wisdom and grace to complete the race he’s been given to run. “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.”
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10