May 2010

Are you a Christian? If you are, then ask yourself, “What can help me remain faithful to the Lord?” Let me suggest some things that will help all of us to be like Timothy, who is described as being “faithful in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:17). There is nothing in the following paragraphs that is new, nothing that would thrill the masses, and nothing that sounds “super special.” But, as simple as they sound, they work – in every place and in every generation.

1. Decide that, more than anything else, we want to go to heaven.

If we want to be counted as faithful in the sight of God, then we must have this goal for our life: live a life that pleases the Lord in order that we can go to heaven. Surely we all want to hear the Master say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).  Heaven is only for those people who, more than anything else, seek to go there.  Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13,14). If a child of God does not really strive to enter the narrow gate, then he will fail to be faithful, and in the end will not make it to heaven. Think about it.

2. Live one day at a time.

It is wise to make plans for our life, but when we talk about the future, let us remember to say, “If the Lord wills” (James 4:13-15). Let us be concerned about doing the Lord’s will today and not worry about tomorrow. If we will think about having to be faithful to the Lord for 10 or 20 or 50 years, perhaps we will say that it is just too difficult, and we will become discouraged and quit serving God. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). Let us work for Jesus and do His will today. Let us ask God to help us be faithful today. If we faithfully serve Him today, then today is a success! If tomorrow comes, then let us begin again tomorrow with the same prayer, “Lord, help me to be faithful to You today.”

3. Spend as much time as possible with other faithful saints.

If we spend most of our time with the children of Satan, then serious danger looms: “Do not be deceived:  Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33). If we can find a way to spend more of our time with other faithful servants of the Lord, then that will be a big encouragement to us. The Bible’s instruction is, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today’” (Hebrews 3:13). Spending time with other Christians really is a great blessing! It provides us with an opportunity to exhort one another and help each other to serve the Lord in the right way. Remember this: only God and other Christians can truly understand the difficulties that you and I face in our lives as we struggle to overcome the devil and live faithfully for Jesus.

4. Read the Bible and pray every day.

This sounds so basic, but it is such a powerful source of help. Our communication with God is a big part of keeping us where we need to be spiritually. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Studying the Bible helps us to grow in faith and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Remember, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). And what about prayer? “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Pray to the Lord, for “He cares for you,” and He is “our refuge and strength” (1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 46:1). It is a proven and tested fact that daily Bible study and prayer will bless the life of a sincere saint of God!

5. If you choose to get married, marry someone that is a faithful member of the Lord’s church.

Read and learn from King Solomon’s foolish decision to marry non-Israelite wives. They were a curse to his life. Solomon started out loving Jehovah (1 Kings 3:3), but his wives turned his heart to them and their false gods (1 Kings 11:3-10). Hear this world-wide truth: for the great majority of people in this world, the one human that influences them more than any other is the person to whom they are married. Think about it. If you marry someone that is not a faithful child of the living God, you will be cleaving or glued to a servant of the devil (Matthew 19:4-6). It is tough to have a good marriage. It is even harder to get to heaven. Marrying one that does not put God’s affairs first (Matthew 6:33) is a great way to make yourself miserable and endanger your soul. Is that what you want? If pleasing God is what you really desire to do, then marry a person that will help you and your offspring go to heaven!

6. Attend each service of the church.

Each child of God should imitate the attitude of David, who said, “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1). Willfully missing the assemblies of God’s people will weaken His children like few other things can (Hebrews 10:24,25). When we come together to worship or study with a pure heart, then we grow closer to one another as we draw closer to God. It is a great privilege to assemble with other Christians who love the God of heaven with their whole being (Mark 12:29,30). Make plans to be at every service.

— Roger D. Campbell

TRUTH is published monthly by the Klang church of Christ in order to help educate, edify, encourage, and equip the saints of God.