Christ. James is very clear on this:
‘What good is it, my brothers
and sisters, if you say you have
faith, but do not have
works?’ (James 2:14). Christianity
is not meant to be a passive option
that makes us feel good. Our faith
in Christ is meant to be living and
active.
However, there are times when
being involved in the game of life
we become very weary or are faced
with circumstances that cause
extreme pain. What do we do when
the game seems to be going
against us, when in spite of all our
best efforts the ball whistles past at
tremendous speed and we just
aren’t in the right place to return it?
Do we react with tears and
tantrums, throw down our racquet
and stomp off the court, John
McEnroe style, saying, ‘It’s not fair,
no-one told us how difficult it
would be, and we’re not going to
play anymore’? Or do we hang on
in there and carry on with the
game? You see, there are plenty of
people who begin well, producing
dazzling shots and apparently
performing excellently, yet when
the going gets tough their play
becomes ragged and finally they
drop out of the game altogether.
Attitude is very important for a
Wimbledon player. When Andy
Murray goes out on Centre Court
to face his opponent, he is not
thinking: ‘There is no way I am
going to win this match!’ Yet so
often Christians can feel defeated
before they even start. They often
think: ‘I’d love to believe in the
power of prayer, but my situation is
so awful....’ or ‘I’d really love to do
that, Lord, but you know how
insignificant I am...’
Remember those matches when
Andy Murray or Roger Federer
fought back from a seemingly
hopeless position to win the game?
That’s how God wants us to be.
God wants finishers - people who
will stay in there right to the end,
playing to the best of their ability.
The apostle Paul, towards the end
of his was able to declare ‘’I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for
me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will award me on that
day - and not only me, but also
all who have longed for His
appearing’ (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
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