Perseverance: Part IV

It's Easter morning. My coffee seems to taste better, the birds that are singing outside my window seem more chipper and I would have to say that I feel grateful. Grateful to be alive, grateful to have been able to stand erect on two feet, able to walk and talk and I get the opportunity to sleep in a little later before getting up to write. Being able to write is a blessing beyond comprehension.

My text today is on having an unwavering commitment. So how are we to make our mission for God as strong a charge as possible? How can we be committed to His cause, which will have benefits that stand the test of time; both in our lives and in the legacy we leave behind? Let's define the words with the help of Mr. Webster, and go from there.

What is unwavering?

Webster's dictionary offers one definition:
a. continuing in a strong and steady way

What is commitment?

Webster's dictionary offers three forms for the definition of the word:
a. an agreement or pledge to do something in the future
b. something pledged
c: the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled

Unwavering is commonly used as an adverb. Commitment can be used in various forms of the English language. Adding the two together provides power.

Christ's entire walk on this earth, in the human form of Jesus, was entirely based on one final objective; making it to the cross. He was strong and steady, had an agreement between He and God to pledge his life for the sake of humanity, and as tough as the road to Golgotha became, he felt emotionally obligated and compelled to die on the cross.

Even his last words provide a classic and timeless representation of having an unwavering commitment. Jesus said in His final breath, "It is finished."

Using Jesus as the figure of the model of how we are to approach our mission for God, one question remains. How can I display an unwavering commitment in my mission; my walk with God?

Once again; not an easy question to answer. It's not an easy question to answer when we are seventeen, not at thirty, not at sixty-five and certainly not as we take our final breath.

When I think about the unwavering commitment of Jesus, I think about His grace. He spoke in parables. He fasted. He prayed in the wilderness. And eventually, He paid the ultimate price; for which all will benefit.

In Romans 12: 1-2, Paul writes "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

God's will is simple. He desires that everyone who graces this earth to have a relationship with Him. It was He who put us here. He has laid out a defined, divine purpose, for each and every one of us, before we were even born. To accomplish this, Jesus died in our place. From the Garden of Eden, to Jesus' final words on the cross, the mission was purposely and perfectly etched in stone. Jesus bore the pain and suffering for the forgiveness of our sin.

So how to we respond?

None of us will fully embody the grace with which Jesus fulfilled His mission. In my humble opinion, it is not humanly possible. But, we can have an unwavering commitment in our attempt to reach others.

Just as Paul set out to do, discipleship is a mandatory and commandment from God. We cannot be satisfied with dipping a toe in the water. We are to be immersed in our mission. This will allow us to "run the race" for Jesus. This will allow us to be successful in reaching others. We are to "ask for grace" so that we might be effective. We are not only to run the race, but finish it!

To do that requires the unwavering commitment that I am writing about today. Harnessing grace, humility, defining and applying the path with which God's divine purpose for us can and will be accomplished, is both an ironhearted and compassionate journey. But it can be completed, with the aid of Jesus as a model, the Holy Spirit and God.

How can I say this? Because Jesus' work was not unfinished when he said, "It is finished." Two old hymns come to mind that many of you know; and certainly all Christians should. Here are a few stanzas:

"Up from the grave He arose!"

-and-

"And He walks with me,
 And talks with me,
 And He tells me I am His own"

On Easter, we are to be reminded and remember the 3rd day. The stone was rolled away, and Jesus joined God the Father in heaven. It is there, that we are to meet Him.

So let's return to the idea of having an unwavering commitment.

Two weeks ago, our pastor placed several "prayer boards" near the congregation. Before concluding the service, we were asked to write the names of two people who we would like to see come to know and have a relationship with Jesus. One after one, we took our names to the prayer boards and pasted them until they were completely filled. A conservative estimate for this exercise included 10,000 names.

The church leaders and staff were commissioned to pray for each and every name. We as the body of the church were also commissioned to participate in this incredibly powerful exercise. Many of these names, will come to have a relationship with Christ. Some this week, some next and some years from now, but our efforts will not be without completion. They will not fail. Why? Because it is in the name of Jesus that we have humbly asked to intervene on our behalf, for those that we casually know, those we influence, those we respect and those we will pray for a lifetime. To that end, an unwavering commitment in our efforts is required.

Jesus' last words were "It is finished."

Paul's closing remarks from a Roman prison cell can be found in 2 Timothy 4: 6-8. We read, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 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 to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

And further in 2 Timothy 4: 16-18. "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will [has] rescue[d] me from every evil attack and will bring me [home] safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

Our efforts will not go unnoticed. Our efforts not in vein. They will not fail. God's mission will be finished.

God is omniscient. God is omnipotent. God is omnipresent.

On this Easter morning, I am reminded of my own attempt, to complete my mission, for the glory of God. I challenge you to continually define and refine your own, having an attitude to embody your own unwavering commitment.

To God be the glory, forever and ever, Amen!