Faith is something we all have. The difference is where we place our faith. When you flip a light switch, you have faith that the light will come on. When you start a car, you have faith that it will crank. When you sit in a chair, you have faith that it will hold you up, or you won’t sit down. Our greatest faith should be in God. We believe that by placing our faith in Him, He will direct us through this life and prepare a place for us with Him after this life is over. I have had faith that God would do things that were against human reason, and He did what I believed He would. Most of us have friends who have experienced miracles in their lives because of their faith. However, our faith must be strong enough to carry us to the end of this life without doubting what God has promised in His word. In I Corinthians 15:58, we have a challenge and a command to be steadfast and unmovable in our faith.
I Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Paul starts this verse with “therefore.” When this word is in scripture we need to look back and see what was before. He had just preached about the truths of Christ in view of the resurrection. No matter what we go through here, we are promised a glorious, perfect life with Christ when we die. In view of eternity, this life is short, however, eternity for the Christian has no end and it has no pain, suffering, or negative experiences. That is hard for us to imagine because all we have known in this life have been moments of joy, but also moments or seasons of pain, both emotionally and physically. He encourages us to stay true to the end.
There are many examples in scripture. One I think of often is Stephen, he was a deacon and the first martyr for Christ. In Acts chapter 6, he is appointed as a deacon. He had already proved himself to be worthy of the office by his teaching, and his daily life. He doesn’t back down from the truth, even though it would cost him his life. In Acts 7:54, they had heard enough of the preaching of what they had done to Christ. Stephan had preached the truth, and it convicted their hearts, but he never backed down or sugar-coated the gospel. In Acts 7:55, he looked to the heavens and saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Their anger and hate would not allow them to listen for one more minute, and they stoned him to death. Knowing he was dying; Stephan asks God in verse 6 to lay not this sin to their charge. This phrase was a plea for their forgiveness, and it reminds me of the prayer that Jesus prayed when he was dying on the cross. Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Acts 7:54-60 “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
I also think of John the Baptist, who was beheaded because he preached the truth to Herod. Herod had married his brother’s wife. John told him what he had done was wrong. Herod had him bound but stopped short of having him killed because Mark 6:20 tells us that Herod feared John and considered him a just and holy man. However, his lust for Herodias’s daughter overcame him, and he granted her whatever she wanted. Herodias had tricked Herod and told her daughter to ask for John the Baptist’s head on a charger. Her request was not what Herod wanted, but he kept his word and had John beheaded. John never backed down on the truth. He was steadfast and unmovable.
Mark 6:17-24 “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he swore unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.”
These are two examples that are prominent in the Bible, but there are many more in scripture and present-day that have placed their faith in Christ above everything else. They see the big picture of life after death. They understand this is a staging ground for the future. If you want to have this kind of steadfast unwavering faith, you must spend time with God. Read His word, pray, and determine that He will come first in everything!
After salvation, we are left here to be witnesses for Christ. We are to exercise our faith to influence others to accept Him as their personal Savior. You will only be able to stand against the odds if you build your relationship now.
