Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:7
Yes, I will--three of the most potent words in our language. Whether spoken quietly, loudly, or silently, those three words have propelled more people to success and have been responsible for more human achievement than all other words in the English language combined.
Quoting from a book entitled, "A Long Obedience In The Same Direction" the author draws this startling conclusion:
"Our attention spans have been conditioned by 30 second commercials. Our sense of reality has been flawed by 30-page abridgements. It is not difficult in such a world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terribly difficult to sustain the interest. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but with it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experiences in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long-term apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness."
Perhaps he is saying many want to have enough Christianity to make them feel good about God, but not enough to make them commit to living the life when times get tough! Our challenge is to have a "Yes, I Will"mentality about living the Christian life. A commitment that looks at Christianity for the "long haul". It's time we begin not only to look at our starting date, but the finish line as well. It is this "yes I Will"mentality we as Christians must develop so we can say along with Paul in our final hours: 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith..."
This is a great verse, a great attitude, a great mentality...but it must be translated this way in your life as well.
Winners Never Quit
Paul never intended for us to interpret this scripture as I have fought the fight when it was easy and could be worked into my already busy schedule. I didn't have quite the drive and enthusiasm to finish the course, because I found myself bored and there were so many other things to occupy my time. However, one of these days, I will get back into it, just wait and see! Physical attitudes affect our Spiritual lives. When we become quitters in this life, we begin to find this same attitude in our spiritual life with God. We begin to drift - we begin to rationalize - we begin to find reasons why we need to get out of this thing called Christianity! What we need to understand, is that winners never quit! This needs to be our hearts cry when it comes to Christianity. Not just starting the race but moving forward -- one step at a time - toward the finish line. Regardless of what Satan may send, we will not be thwarted from reaching our goal! In the final analysis of the Christian life, only you can decide whether you will finish or stop during the race!
The motivation behind the "Yes, I Will, Lord".
The motivation behind saying “Yes I will Lord”is a neat little verse tucked away in Revelation. It was written to another people at another time -- yet clearly speaking to us today! It is one of those passages that motivates us to hang in there regardless of how long or how difficult the trial we face might be. Revelation. 2:10b"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
The motivation behind saying “Yes I will Lord”is a neat little verse tucked away in Revelation. It was written to another people at another time -- yet clearly speaking to us today! It is one of those passages that motivates us to hang in there regardless of how long or how difficult the trial we face might be. Revelation. 2:10b"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
The motivation is, of course, the crown of life. The victors crown. In a race only one received the crown - the winner. In Christ, everyone who crosses the finish line wins! They get the crown! The glorious crown! I wonder if Jesus isn't going to put in on our heads himself! When the road gets weary, the disappointments heavy, and the feeling of emptiness a reality. How many are finishing the course with as much enthusiasm as they started with? How important it is for us to not only make the decision to start the race, but to finish it as well? To live a long obedience in the same direction?
The true prize only comes at the end of the line. We must keep our eyes on the prize, focusing on what lies before us and finish strong.
