"Searching the Scriptures and Seeking the Lost"
Settled, Steadfast & Secure
by Wayne Jones
God desires that we live our lives with peace and comfort, knowing that He faithful and just to forgive, to protect, to instruct and to save those are committed to Him and His Holy Word. Despite God’s desire many live their Christian lives in constant fear, worry and doubt that they are not good enough or strong enough to maintain a relationship with God Almighty due to their own weaknesses. As a result, their service to God becomes erratic and inconsistent. Faith is replaced by fear. Assurance is replaced by anxiety. Consequently, service to God is replaced by sin.
To alleviate this problem, God continually reminds us (through His Word) of His love, grace, mercy, concern and readily-available blessings. However, many of these Christian comforts are dependant on our faithfulness to Him. For this reason, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). Through the pen of inspiration, Solomon charged us to “take firm hold of instruction, do not let go” (Prov. 4:13). To this end, David pleaded with the Lord to renew a “steadfast spirit” in him (Psalm 51:10).
With all the advantages of being steadfast or of persevering to the end, there are many who do not. Why is that? It is our intent to answer this question in the space remaining. Some do not remain steadfast to the end because...
Some Are Not Planted
Paul wrote to the Colossians and encouraged them to “continue in faith, grounded and steadfast” so that they would not be moved away from the Gospel (Col. 1:23). Remember the blessed of Psalm 1? Consider why he chose not to walk the path of the sinner: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water...” (Psalm 1:2-3; emphasis mine). Our ability to sustain faithful service to God is primarily dependent upon how deep our roots run and how firm our anchor is cast (Heb. 6:19). What happens when our anchor of faith does not hold firm? What happens to us when our roots SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1do not run deep? In view of these questions, Paul gives a warning that we should “no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful...” (Eph. 4:14-15).
Sadly, some do not remain steadfast until the end because the are not firmly planted in the hope and assurance that comes with a rich knowledge of God and His Word.
Some Are Not Serious
Christianity is a serious religion which demands that we be serious in our approach toward it. That is why Peter would charge: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1Pet. 1:13). Those who lack seriousness regarding the commitment they have made to Christ will also lack seriousness when considering subjects such as death, judgement and the eternal realm.
Paul emphasized a serious approach to Christianity when he wrote to the church at Rome (Rom. 12:1). Paul urged those in Philippi to be mature in their minds (Phil. 3:15). Paul also demanded that those in the Corinth not to “be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” (1Cor. 14:20). The level of commitment that we attain when we view the Christian life through sober/serious minds will prompt us to be steadfast, settled and secure in Christ.
Some Are Not Watchful
Peter forever connected the need to be serious to the need to be watchful: “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers” (1Pet. 4:7). The word watchful is used in some form 90 different times in Scripture. Sometimes it was used when giving a command. Sometimes the Spirit used this word in connection with a warning. Regardless of the situation or circumstance in which it was used, when you add all these instances up, the need to be watchful ought be evidently apparent!
The warning and command to watch is connected to many different aspects of the Christian life. For example, we are to be aware of and watchful for our enemy (1 Pet. 5:8-9). We are to watch out for times of temptation (Matt. 26:41). We are to prayerfully watch in anticipation for the return of the Lord (Matt. 24:42). We are to carefully watch for times of weakness that we might be strong (1 Cor. 16:13). We ought to earnestly watch for time to pray to our Heavenly Father (Luke 21:36). Realistically, if a man were watchful in all these areas, would he not also be settled, steadfast and secure in Jesus Christ?
John Steven Aquari represented his country of Tanzania in the marathon event of the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City. Mr. Aquari was not the winner of that race, in fact Mamo Waldi of Ethiopia won many hours before John Steven Aquari ever made it back in the arena. When he reentered the arena the few spectators noticed that his leg was bandaged and the bandage was soaked with blood. John Steven Aquari crossed the finished line to the roar of the small crowd and was immediately asked by one reporters why he did not just give up. After all, he was hurt and the race had been over for hours. Mr. Aquari responded with these words “my country did not send me seven thousand miles to start this race. They sent me seven thousands miles to finish it!”
May we be planted, serious and watchful so that we preserve through the trials and finish our race.