Steadfastness!

Steadfastness is a big word! It is one that many people don't use, don't understand and certainly don't incorporate into their lifestyle. Divorce, for an example, is an example of the lack of steadfastness in our society! God tells us that he hates divorce, but the divorce rate- in the world and in Christianity- is now higher than ever! As soon as our spouse does something that goes against what we want, gets sick or almost any other excuse, we change our attitude toward him or her and we go in search of someone else! What ever happened to our wedding vows when we said "for better or for worse!" Of course! We never imagined there could be any "worse!"

This blog isn't just to harp on divorce. What about loyalty to our church? How about being steadfast in our role as a part of the body of Christ! I can't imagine any body anywhere that could survive very long if the heart or the lungs or the kidneys, or any part for that matter, just didn't show up for five or six weeks at a time. Float in and float out and have absolutely no responsibility to the rest of the body at all- a total lack of steadfastness! As a society, can you imagine how sick we would all be? It is a good thing God knew what he was doing when he connected our brains and the rest of our organs together. Personally, I'm glad they have all been steadfast in my body for the last 65 years!

Pastor Tim spoke on serving yesterday in his message. It was an excellent message and our attendance was as big as it has been in the first three months of 2012! The problem was that there were a lot of people who should have heard the message- it would have made a huge difference in their daily lives- that didn't, because guess what? They were no where to be found! Their chairs were empty and they left everyone else in the body of Christ hanging on their own. No support! No service! No explanation as to why they weren't there! No steadfastness- no responsibility to anyone but themselves! The sad part is that it is "themselves" who will be hurt in the long run!

Paul wrote in I Timothy 4:1, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." Paul says in II Timothy 3:1, "But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slandorous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." Wow! Paul prophesies that people will be anything but steadfast in the last days before the return of Christ! What about you? Think about it!

Next blog-Steadfastness, Part 2- There are some really great people who serve God on a daily basis.