Hold On Until the End

Do you ever have those moments where you're reading something - a passage of Scripture, a devotional book, a quote book, etc. - and God brings your attention to a particular verse or sentence that tells you exactly what you needed to hear at that particular moment?

That happened to me just a few minutes ago.

I was reading in one of my all-time favorite devotional books, Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman. I always enjoy reading each day's short devotional - they are chock-full of Biblical truth and spiritually refreshing.

Today's devotional was entitled, "Hold On Until the End." I have been a bit frazzled -- alright, more than a bit frazzled about some situations where I have felt like throwing my hands up, throwing in the towel, giving up . . . you get the idea. This devotional was exactly what I needed to hear, right at the moment when I read it (yet another reason I don't believe in coincidences).

If you'll permit me, I would like to share part of this short devotional with you in the hope that it will minister to your heart as well. (No copyright infringement is intended.)

Hold On Until the End

"It is the last step that wins; and there is no place in the pilgrim's progress where so many dangers lurk as the region that lies hard by the portals of the Celestial City. It was there that Doubting Castle stood. It was there that the enchanted ground lured the tired traveler to fatal slumber. It is when Heaven's heights are full in view that hell's gate is most persistent and full of deadly peril. 'Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.' 'So run, that ye may obtain.' "

In the bitter waves of woe

Beaten and tossed about

By the sullen winds that blow

From the desolate shores of doubt,

Where the anchors that faith has cast

Are dragging in the gale,

I am quietly holding fast

To the things that cannot fail.

And fierce though the fiends may fight,

And long though the angels hide,

I know that truth and right

Have the universe on their side;

And that somewhere beyond the stars

Is a love that is better than fate.

When the night unlocks her bars

I shall see Him--and I will wait.

Washington Gladden

It's so tempting to give up when you're so close to the end of a trial, a spiritual struggle, or other difficulty that must be fought through. I constantly struggle with wanting to give up - and, all too often, actually giving up - when I can "see the light at the end of the tunnel," so to speak. I feel like I've already fought so long and so hard to rid myself of that besetting sin, to free myself from a bad habit, etc., that I just can't do it anymore, even though I'm right at the finish line. That would be like an Olympic athlete stopping and pulling himself or herself out of the race a few paces from the finish line, mere steps away from victory. I don't know about you, but that mental image is heartbreaking to me. That's exactly what happens when I focus on the stormy situation, the pain the situation is causing, etc., and I pull myself out of the spiritual race God has called me to run.

During the World War II Allied Invasion of Normandy ("D-Day"), a detachment of British forces were ordered to seize and hold a particular bridge until reinforcements arrived. They knew before they landed that they would be vastly outnumbered by the occupying German forces. When the officer of the detachment asked how long they were expected to hold the bridge, the answer was, "hold until relieved. Hold until relieved." And that's exactly what he did - his detachment took the bridge and held it until the reinforcements arrived to relieve them.

Hold on until the end. Don't quit. "It is the last step that wins."

Keep your hand on the plow! Hold on!

Langston Hughes

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Hebrews 3:14

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Live Dangerously

I came across this video while perusing YouTube.

Dr. Mohler really hit the nail on the head. Christianity isn't "safe." It isn't supposed to be "safe." We are called to live dangerously for the sake of the One we serve. We are called to be a bold, shining light in the darkness that is this world. Those who cannot go out and live dangerously, or are not called to go, can live dangerously by unashamedly providing the support and encouragement needed by those who are called to go.

Christian apathy is a scary thing. Light cannot fight darkness if it is weak. Determine to live dangerously from this day forward. Reject the temptation to stay with the comfortable and familiar. God will use you to further His kingdom in the way He has planned for you to do so if you will choose to live dangerously.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Mark 16:15

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

Romans 10:14-15

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. 

Ephesians 6:12

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Jim Elliot

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London 2012

I am a huge fan of the Olympics. I usually can't sleep the night before the Opening Ceremony due to excitement, and I'm always sad when they're over (and anxiously awaiting the next one!). I am always amazed at and inspired by the feats the athletes can push themselves to accomplish. They blow me away every time.

As these particular Games have unfolded, I've become more and more excited as I have discovered just how many of the athletes are professing Christians. What an incredible opportunity these men and women have to share their faith!

While I'm sure there are many non-American believers competing in the Games of the 30th Olympiad, I will only be highlighting those on Team USA in this post. (I also realize that this is probably not a complete list of every American Christian competing.)

: Allyson Felix : 

Photo by teamusa.org

Allyson is representing the USA as a sprinter in the Track & Field events. You can read more about what her faith means to her here. View her official Team USA profile here.

: Chris Brooks :

Photo by NBC Olympics

Chris is a member of the U.S. Men's Gymnastics team. View his official Team USA profile here.

: David Boudia :

Photo by Getty Images

David is a diver for the USA Diving Team. View his official Team USA bio here.

: Gabrielle "Gabby" Douglas :

Photo by teamusa.org

Gabby is a gymnast for the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team (aka the Fab Five). In a recent TV interview, she mentioned that she fights nerves by meditating on Scripture. View her official Team USA profile here.

: Hunter Kemper :

Courtesy of hunterkemper.com

Hunter represents the USA in the Triathlon. View his official Team USA profile here.

: Jacob Wukie :

Photo by Getty Images

Jacob is shooting for the U.S. Archery team. View his official Team USA profile and read more about his faith here.

: Jacob "Jake" Dalton :

Photo by Getty Images

Jake is a member of the U.S. Men's Gymnastics team. View his official Team USA profile here. 

: Jonathan Horton :

Photo by NBC Olympics

Jonathan is the team captain for the U.S. Men's Gymnastics team. View his official Team USA profile here.

: Jordyn Wieber :

Courtesy of thesportsbank.net

Jordyn is a gymnast for the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team (aka the Fab Five). View her official Team USA profile here.

: Lolo Jones :

Courtesy of Facebook

Lolo is representing the USA in the Track & Field events. She is know for being outspoken about her faith (read more here and here). View her official Team USA profile here. 

: Sanya Richards-Ross :

Photo by ESPN

Sanya is a member of the USA Track & Field team. View her official Team USA profile here. 

 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24

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Take a Stand

"Vashti Refuses the King's Summons"
by Edwin Long

During my last semester of college, I was required to do an in-depth study of a piece of art as part of the requirements for an art appreciation class. As I wandered the halls of the Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, I came upon a painting entitled "Vashti Refuses the King's Summons" by Edwin Long. This painting depicts the moment after Queen Vashti has refused the King's request for her to appear before him and his guests at a royal orgy (see Esther 1 for the whole story).

"Vashti" is an absolutely stunning painting to see in person - the small photo reproduction in this post doesn't do it justice. Long painted this piece in such a realistic way I half expected the figures to step out of the frame! I was so taken with it that I purchased a small copy to add to my art collection (the original was a bit out of my price range ;) ).

As I was studying "Vashti" and thinking about the story that inspired it, I was reminded that doing the right thing is usually not easy or popular. Not much is know about Vashti apart from this story (to my knowledge, at least). From what little we know of her, it is obvious that she wasn't afraid to take a stand for what she knew was right.

{ What's popular isn't always right. What's right isn't always popular. }

Vashti was the wife of King Ahasuerus of Persia, and, consequently, the Queen of Persia. From what we can tell from Scripture, Ahasuerus wasn't the most morally upright man of the day. He had a problem with lust and drunkenness, and often combined the two by hosting royal orgies. Orgies were parties where immoral behavior and drunkenness were encouraged among those in attendance. This was the sort of function at which a drunk Ahasuerus called for Vashti to appear. In ancient Persia, the King's word was law - even his smallest wish. The penalty for failing to comply with Ahasuerus' laws/wishes was anything from exile to death, depending on his mood. Vashti knew the risks and chose to take a stand in spite of the very real possibility that she could be executed for doing so. What a courageous woman!

Vashti lost her place as Queen, but she kept her character intact. Her courage in the face of such formidable consequences is commendable and inspiring.

Don't be afraid to take a stand for righteousness. It might not be easy, popular, or comfortable, but we are called to do it.

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Quotes by C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis (or "Jack," as he liked to be called) is one of my favorite authors and Christian apologists. His writings are some of the most profound works on Christianity that I have read so far in my experience with Christian apologetic literature. His unique ability to describe complex ideas in a simple ways is an inspiration to me.

So, without further ado, I would like to share with you some quotes attributed to him that I have found helpful, thought-provoking, and encouraging. I hope they will minister to your heart, as well.

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."

"A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading."

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither."

"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important."

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."

"Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement."

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

"Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see."

"Nothing that you have not given away will ever really be yours."

"There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'" 

"We are what we believe we are."

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

 "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body."

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will be come unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."

"I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time - waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God - it changes me." 

"Love is not an affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained."

"Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning..."

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."

"Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a dead world."

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind."

"What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it."

"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?" 

"God allows us to experience the low points in life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn no other way."

"Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not."

"It is not your business to succeed, but to do right; when you have done so, the rest lies with God."

"To walk out of His will is to walk into nowhere."

"When you are arguing against God, you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all."

"God loves us, not because we're lovable, because He is love. Not because He needs to receive, because He delights to give."

"Faith in Christ is the only thing to save you from despair."

"When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place."

"If God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise it is like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him."

"If we only have the will to walk, then God is pleased with our stumbles."

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Facing the Giants

"David" by Michelangelo

"Teenage Boy Kills Local Terror, Goliath." I imagine that would have been the headline article for the newspapers in Israel when David killed Goliath. (I realize newspapers didn't exist in David's day, just my overactive imagination at work here. ;) ) How remarkable that a teenage shepherd boy took down a nearly 10-foot tall military powerhouse that had the armies of Israel quaking in their sandals for well over a month (40 days)! I think it's safe to assume that no one other than David could have imagined how the encounter between the boy with a sling and the giant with the full trappings of war would conclude.  (You can find the full account of this remarkable story in I Samuel 17.)

While it's unlikely that any of us will ever confront a physical giant like Goliath, many (if not all) of us face spiritual giants that are just as formidable and deadly. There names are Fear, Doubt, Temptation, and Pride.

{Fear} This giant is aroused by danger, evil, pain, concern, or anxiety. It hinders us from facing difficult circumstances with faith. It prevents us from doing the right or "hard" thing because of the possibility of failure or rejection.

{Doubt} This giant holds us captive when we question or are uncertain about promises God has given us in His Word. Doubting means that we consider God's Word questionable or unreliable.

{Temptation} This giant rears its ugly head when we are slack in guarding our minds, bodies, and souls from the alluring siren calls of the world to engage in sinful activities or thought patterns that are contrary to the way we have been called to live.

{Pride} This giant comes on the scene when we have an unbiblical view of ourselves, high or low. We can become overly confident in our own abilities or consumed with our failures; both are expressions of pride.

How are we to fight against such formidable giants?

Fight Fear with Faith. Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:3-9; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 27:1; Psalm 56:3-4; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 54:4; Matthew 10:26; Matthew 10:28; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:5-6; 1 Peter 5:7.

Fight Doubt with Truth. Psalm 15:1-2; Psalm 25:5; Psalm 43:3; Psalm 86:11; Psalm 119:160; Matthew 17:20; Luke 18:27; John 8:31-32; John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 4:25; Philippians 4:13; Philippians 4:19; 1 John 1:8. 

Fight Temptation with Purity. Psalm 119:11; Proverbs 7:25-26; Matthew 5:27-29; Matthew 26:41; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:12-14; Galatians 5:16-25; Philippians 4:8; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:22; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 2:18; James 1:12-14; James 4:7; 1 John 2:14-17. 

Fight Pride with Humility. Deuteronomy 12:4;  Obadiah 1:3; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Psalm 10:4; Psalm 138:6; Psalm 147:6; Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 11:2; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 16:5; Proverbs 16:18-19; Proverbs 18:12; Proverbs 21:4; Proverbs 22:4; Proverbs 25:9; Proverbs 26:12; Proverbs 29:23; Isaiah 2:11; Isaiah 5:21; Isaiah 23:9; Daniel 5:20; Matthew 18:3-4; Luke 14:7-11; Luke 22:24-27; Mark 9:35; Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:1-11; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:2-6.

Ask the Lord to help you identify areas where these giants have taken hold in your life. As He brings those areas to light, it can be discouraging to see how easy it is for them to creep in and take us captive. Just remember: the same God who enabled David to defeat Goliath is the same God who will help you bring down the giants in your life, as well.

"David with the Head of Goliath" by Caravaggio 

Please comment below: What giants have you faced in your life? How has the Lord enabled you to defeat them? What verses have helped you and/or encouraged you in this process?

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