Stay at your post
9/24/2009 10:20:58 PM
Please read Luke chapter 18, verses 1 - 8 Will  not  God  bring  about  justice  for  his  chosen  ones,          who cry out to him day and night?   vs.7,  NIV Good Morning. Are you a good finisher?  I   am   not. . . at least, I didn't used to be.


p class="p16">Please read Luke chapter 18, verses 1 - 8 Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones,

who cry out to him day and night? vs.7, NIV


Good Morning.


Are you a good finisher? I am not. . . at least, I didn't used to be. I have always been a dilettante--dabbling in this, and then that, while mastering nothing--a strong starter, and not so great a finisher. This short lesson Jesus teaches us today lets us know how God feels about finishers.


A parable on prayer, persistence, patience and a promise - the widow goes to a judge, asking for him to rule against her adversary--probably someone who owed her money. Jesus describes the judge as corrupt, with no fear of God or regard for man. . . yet, he eventually grants her request because of her persistence. Jesus illustrates, "And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." NKJV The widow may have persisted in prayer because she was destitute, alone, and without resources, knowing the judge could ease her plight, but how about us? How about when we bring our prayers to the Lord, and then give up on getting an answer? You know what I'm talking about--praying for a heart change in someone you love who is far from God. . . have you grown weary in praying for him? In fact, have you given up? What other prayer have you abandoned?


Ours is an impatient culture: instant messaging, microwave ovens, quick-fix meals, 20-minute workouts, toll roads that allow us to get there quicker. . . wherever there is. We are such finite creatures with limited perspective, and we tire of anything that involves waiting. . . including prayer. We begin praying in earnest, but abandon our posts. . . not finishing well. While we demand faithfulness of our God, we are not so faithful. Let me take you to Hebrews 11, what folks call the "Hall of Faith." Verse 6 says that 'without faith it is impossible to please God.' Then, we see a number of the saints who were heroes in the faith--Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joseph. . . but check out verse 11, 'these all died in faith, not having received the promises...' Oh sure, they saw them in the distance, and felt assured of them, but only we have the perspective of 'the fulness of time' showing that God honored their faith and fulfilled His promises to them. And so He will for us. . . if we stay at our posts.


Jesus knew that those listening would face intense persecution in the years that followed, but He is telling them 'remain faithful, God will avenge you.' (We know that the new Jewish Christians would face imprisonment and persecution such as they had never known--we have the perspective of time to lend greater understanding of His message to them.) In A.D. 70, the temple would be destroyed, and the Jews scattered. . . let's go there a moment. . . this same Dr. Luke whose compassion fell to widows a number of times. . . records with accuracy the events of Jesus' day and then the establishment of the early church in the book of Acts. Acts chapter 8, verse 1: At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Here, Luke gives us an illustration of what it means to be faithful--notice with me that the Jewish Christians fled the persecution, (which by the way, accounts for the spread of the gospel into these regions - "you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1.8), but while many fled, the apostles stayed at their post. This is powerful--they had just seen Stephen stoned to death for His faith, Saul was on a one-man crusade to prosecute Christians, and yet, the apostles remained faithful though it would cost them everything. "I tell you, He [God] will see that they get justice" Luke 18.8. The apostles stayed at their post. When we see or even face injustice, neither escapes God's notice; He will avenge any injustice.


The widow patiently persists in her petition, and the corrupt judge eventually answers; you and I are to patiently persist in our praying--and God will answer. "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and FINISHER of our faith.." (Hebrews 12) Let's be people of faith, and faithful people as well. Faith means we cannot see the outcome, we are not sure what lies ahead, but we are convinced of the reality of God. We can trust His character and His word. He will come back to earth in judgment, and will reward those who have followed Him. The question Jesus' parable concludes with surrounds that thought--"when the Son of Man comes will He really find faith on the earth?" Will He find Christians who have stayed at their posts?


So, let's not give up or grow tired of praying--that your husband or child will come to know God, that your alcoholic mother will ever change. . . whatever you have cried out to God to come and answer. Persist. . . be faithful. . . because He who called us is faithful. Please, stay at your post; be a good finisher.


So that you may know,

Christine