Biddeford Church of Christ

For those who are sports fans, you may be familiar with an ad with Jason Tatum who is asked a question from a reporter, “What keeps you going?” What a great question to consider when it comes to our Christian walk. Last week I spoke of the terrible plight of those who are not in Christ and how we, God’s church, are commanded to share the good news of Christ. Commands. The Christian life is full of them. God commands us to forgive (Colossians 3:13), attend services of the church (Hebrews 10:24-25), love one another (John 13:34-35), add to our faith (2^nd Peter 1:5-11), and the list can go on and on. All of these are the pursuit of Christ likeness, something we are also called to do (Ephesians 5:1-2) and is accomplished by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:1-2). Our lives should reveal a desire to “Be holy for I am holy” (1^st Peter 1:16). This quest which our Lord has invited us to travel is not without its difficulties. Like the remnant who were given the task to rebuild the temple, things can frustrate us and discouragement can derail us. Life can become wearisome.

            Let us face it, this Christian walk is not easy at times. The “rest” which Jesus offers (Matthew 11:28-30) seems obscured by the obligations that we are called to engage in each day. Transformation! Even the sharing of the gospel becomes burdensome at times. Why? How can something so beneficial and beautiful become so wearisome? The writer of Hebrews says, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become WEARY and DISCOURAGED in your souls” (Hebrews 12:3). We come back to our initial question, “What keeps you going?” Or maybe you are in a place now that suggest the question should be worded like this, “How can I get going again?” Let’s try to give insight into both questions.

“For the love of Christ compels us…” (2^nd Corinthians 5:14)

            I pause for a moment, remembering the first three words of Hebrews 12:3, “For consider Him…” Behind everything we do is someone, right? Wive, husband, children, mom, dad, ourselves! The “who” behind what we do plays a critical role in determining what keeps us going. Paul says it simply; the love of Christ compels him. The ETRV says, “The love of Christ controls us…” The Greek word means to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy. One commentator writes, “Paul brings into view the principle which actuated him; the reason of his extraordinary and disinterested zeal. That was, that he was influenced by the love which Christ had shown in dying for all people…” of which he sees himself as the chief sinner (1^st Timothy 1:15). Love needs to be the driving force behind all that we do. John said it clearly and concisely, “We love Him BECAUSE He first loved us” (1^st John 4:19). So let me try to answer our question with another question, “Do you know you are loved?” Here is where conviction comes into view. Listen to Paul as he goes on to say.

“…because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died

for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves,

but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2^nd Corinthians 5:14b-15)

            The ETRV says in part, “…because we KNOW that one person died for everyone.” The NIV says, “because we are convinced.” The Greek word here means to distinguish. I have reasoned in my mind that this is true! Christ died for all, including me. This very idea carries with it an awareness of sin and its consequences. The stark realization that outside of Christ’s love for me through His completed work on the cross, I have no hope. He died for me! He gave up His heavenly dwelling to live in human form for the purpose of giving Himself for me. Fill in the blanks with your name. “For God so love ___________” (John 3:16). “For when __________ was still without strength, in due time Christ died for _________” (Romans 5:6). Once again, I seek to answer our first question with the second question, “Do you know you are loved?” Are you convinced you are loved?

You see, we strive to do His will not to be loved, but because we recognized how loved we are. And when we lose sight of His unconditional love for us, then all things become laborious, even righteous things. When what we do loses sight of the true reason behind it all, we “become weary and discouraged in our souls” (Hebrews 12:3). So, what keeps you going? In that commercial mentioned above, the answer was this, “Knowing who you do it for.” Remember, we do the things we do because we know God loves us and the proof is the cross of Christ. Thank You for loving me so much!