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not in ourselves strong enough to live to this high standard and it is only as we receive the
power and strength from Him that we may go on our way and be truly gracious.
No.14.
Steadfastness.
pp. 163 - 165
"Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (I Cor. 15: 58).
The Christian life has been likened to a race and the Christian to an athlete. The race
is not like the 100 yards sprint but to the 10 miles long run, which is a feat of endurance.
Stedfast (which we now spell steadfast) means to be firm or constant. It means that
there must be a continuation of effort and not a series of short bursts of energy. The long
runner must not stop on the way to look around and enjoy the beautiful countryside, he
must concentrate on running and look towards the end of the race.
We live in days when there are many influences which would cause us to turn aside.
As this is written, there is an article in a magazine that discusses the decline in moral
values and one reason given is the changing nature of Christian worship and teaching:
"The salt has lost its flavour".
Today, we hear much about the social gospel and Christians are advised to participate
in politics, with the thought that we are wise enough to be able to bring into being the
kingdom of God. No mention is made of the return of Christ Who alone can bring into
being the kingdom of God.
Let us see what the Scriptures have to say and what warnings are given to us in these
days which are called perilous times.
We quote from the Revised Standard Version (R.S.V.):
"Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort,
be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not
endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves
teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and
wander into myths" (II Tim. 4: 2-4).
Paul says that we should not be like children tossed to and fro and carried about by
every wind of doctrine. He warns that there are those who are cunning and whose object
is to deceive (Eph. 4: 14). Those who are "tossed to and fro" are just the opposite of
steadfast, firm and constant believers in Christ. We need to be on the alert as it is
possible to handle the Scriptures deceitfully (II Cor. 4: 2), and by failing to rightly divide
the Word, those who claim to be teachers might mislead the earnest seeker after truth.