Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 2 Peter, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
In Minnesota, many people participate in the beargrease sled dog race which is approximately 400 miles long. Apparently it is the longest sled dog Marathon in the lower 48 states. In order to complete this race you really must be steadfast. In order to cross the finish line, you must stay the course and continue to get up each and every morning, completely focused on the trail that is set before you. It doesn’t matter what obstacles may stand in your way. You might face extremely bitter weather conditions, or your dogs might get into a fight with a wolf. You may run into rugged terrain, but no matter what sufferings you may have to endure, each day you need to get up and do it again if you truly want to win. A musher must be steadfast if they are going to eventually complete the course and get all the way to the end because there is no giving up, there is no quitting, and there is no turning back. Steadfast means to continue and keep going without stopping.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
We must continue in the doctrines and teachings of Christ Jesus, staying faithfully on our course until we eventually cross the finish line and obtain the prize of eternal life. Although some may choose to drop out of the race, we must keep focused with a clear eye on the path that is laid before us.
2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
The dictionary defines steadfast as being fixed and unchanging. To be steadfast is to faithfully continue each day in the teachings and doctrines of Jesus as we have been taught. It’s being committed and devoted to biblical truth, incapable of being led astray by others. It is unyielding, unwavering and uncompromising.
Some people wake up each morning, open up their blinds, and when they look out of their window, they see the sunrise lighting up a huge snow capped mountain. Each day since they were very young, the mountain was there. When they became a teenager, the mountain was there. When they got married and had a family, the mountain was there. It has been there all of their life because that mountain is unmovable, and doesn’t change. To be steadfast in our faith is to be like an unmovable mountain that is unchangeable and constant.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord……
In the world, people change their minds about things each and every day. At the grocery store, they might put an item into their shopping basket but when they finally get to the checkout counter they change their mind, and get something else instead. Someone might get dressed for work in the morning and sit down at the breakfast table but then change their mind about the clothes that they are wearing, and change into something else.
If there is anything in this life that is completely unchangeable, it is biblical truth. It is like a heavy anchor that you would throw off of your fishing boat and it holds you in place no matter what storms or winds may arise. No matter how this world changes through its philosophies and teachings, God’s Word remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. To possess a steadfast heart is to remain anchored and unmovable in regard to the doctrines of our faith. Like the extremely strong roots of a giant sequoia tree hold it firmly in place, we need to steadfastly remain well rooted in Scripture.
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Just as a musher gives verbal commands to their dogs in order to keep them on the right path, we are given commands and teachings through the holy scriptures so that we can stay on the course of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
When you stand fast It means to “stay in or hold your position” or “don’t move”, such as to stand fast against the assault of an enemy. It is to refuse to abandon one’s religious opinions and beliefs in Christ Jesus. In order to complete the eternal race to heaven, we must continue in our faith at all costs because salvation hangs in the balance.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned……..
If someone is going to become a Christian they need to make the decision that they are going to follow Jesus loyally, and this requires that you become steadfast to the truth of His Word. In order to remain in Christ’s love, we must continue to keep in His Commandments. This is the proof of our love towards him.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Steadfastness toward Jesus has to do with being unswerving and extremely loyal to Him. It means that you won’t change your beliefs, no matter what the cost. The devil is like a roaring lion who is trying to destroy people’s faith. He’s attempting to lead people away from Christ and the things that He teaches. You see, he wants people to follow and listen to him rather than following and obeying Christ and the things He commanded and taught. He’s been doing this since the Garden of Eden when he convinced Eve to go against God’s command. (Gen 3:1)
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
We are supposed to resist the devil, like a musher resisting cold weather by putting on warm clothes, we must bolster our hearts and our minds with many layers of scripture. To resist means to attempt to counter the actions or effects of; to withstand the actions of and to oppose. This is a spiritual battle, fought with the sword of God’s Word.(Heb 4:12)
The Christian life is not allowing your beliefs to be altered or changed for anybody. It’s to continue on a fixed course, so that you can obtain the prize. To be steadfast is firmly fixed in place and immovable. It also means not subject to change, firm in belief, determination or adherence. Loyal. This is about remaining a follower of Jesus and His teachings until the day that we go to be with Him in heaven. It’s about not allowing yourself to be led astray from the true faith. We must steadfastly remain and abide in the things that we have been taught because he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
When we become a Christian, we depart from the wide world of sin and begin to walk the narrow path of Christ Jesus. It’s very similar to a sled dog race. In order for a musher to win, they must keep going, continuing in all the things that they have learned. They have trained themselves for this race, and need to abide in the knowledge that they have acquired. A faithful Christian must do the same, keeping on the course of Christ where there is no giving up, there is no quitting, and there is no turning back. Jesus has already paid the entrance fee, and to win this race is going to require staying on course, just like the rest of the mushers, out on……
.……The Beargrease.
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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