Good Morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Over 20 years ago, I took my wife and family along, as I went on a missionary journey to New Mexico and Arizona. When we were in Flagstaff, we decided one day to take in the sites. A few people mentioned taking a drive out by the Snowbowl Ski Lodge, where we could begin taking a walk up the side of Humphrey’s peak. We packed some granola bars and water (not nearly enough).. and began the beautiful walk up the side of the mountain. But slowly the beautiful shady tree line started to fade away. A barren land of rocks appeared, and the air began to get very thin as we got close to “the saddle”, a point between Agassiz and Humphrey’s peaks at approximately 11,800 ft. After catching our breath, we pressed on for another mile to the summit, finally reaching the summit. We had reached the highest peak in the entire state of Arizona, over 12,600 ft.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Nobody had ever mentioned that this was a 10 mile walk, up and down uneven ground. This trail is not recommended for beginners like we were, but although it took far longer than expected, we were strong finishers. No matter how steep the trail got, the only way that we were eventually going to reach the top of that mountain was to keep climbing. To keep something means to continue, to carry on, to persist or to persevere. The Christian life is a narrow path that we must follow, and In order to keep our faith, we must continue to walk each day, in the truth of scripture.
2 Timothy 4 ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The Apostle Paul knew in his conscience that he had kept the faith, and in doing so, God would reward him. To keep the faith, we must first become knowledgeable in our faith. This is why the disciples wanted the church to grow in wisdom, so they could become pleasing unto God. In order to become a true disciple of Christ, one must continue in His Word. It is through the application of God’s truth that we can break the chains of sin, and free ourselves from the carnal nature.
John 8 ³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; ³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We are given the promise of eternal life, but in order to obtain it, we must keep the faith, and do the will of God from our hearts.
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36
To keep the faith means that you must strive forward with great effort to do the will of God.
Philippians 3 ¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24
Those who diligently keep the faith, will receive blessings from God and bring forth fruit.
“But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:28
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3
“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15
The disciples of Christ were keeping His Word.
“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.” John 17:6
Remember, that in order to keep the first commandment we need to love God perfectly, which will happen through complete submission to His will.
“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” 1 John 2:5
Love for God is manifested through our obedience to His Word.
John 14 ²¹ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. ²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? ²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
²⁴ He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
John 15 ⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 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.
“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.” 1 Corinthians 7:19
Many Christians will claim to know God, but if they won’t submit to His teachings, they are a liar.
1 John 2 ³ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Obtaining eternal life depends on following the doctrines of Christ, and continuing in them.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42
“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.” 1 Timothy 4:16
The Lord can present us blameless at judgment Day, as long as we have repented and continued in the faith right to the very end.
Colossians 1. ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. ²² In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
²³ If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
To enter into eternal life you will need to keep in the faith. It’s a daily quest of striving for obedience to the will of God. It’s a very high calling, like attempting to reach the top of a very tall mountain. We must continue walking steadfastly each day, through whatever obstacles might present themselves, if we are ever going to get to the top of….
….. Humphrey’s Peak
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, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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