We see marathon runners, run slowly and in their run all thru they are given many treats to boost the energy, if you notice some don’t take all whats given, some take the water, very little or some glucose to boost the energy . 1st time runners, get enthusiasm to grab whatever goodies they get and drink fully and never finish the marathon.
Paul puts our race in Christ like a runner running persistently in a military discipline. Book of Hebrews guides us how we should run this race..
Hebrews 6:11 'We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realised. ‘
What is Diligence ? - Its nothing but careful and persistent work or effort. We read a student aced the exam due to his diligence studies and practices, a Game is won with diligent practice and discipline. So in our walk with Christ, diligence matters more than anything to very end. So that the hope that we have in Christ is realised. We cannot say I have this diligence for 1 Yr. then after its gone we can harness this hope in Christ.. The word says to have this very till end of our breath “show this same diligence to the very end”Question to ask ourselves what makes this diligence to very end.
Root of Diligence is Love
Our christian life is a race like that of a runner, We are called to show the same diligence to the very end. The diligence we show is not on our self, it has to be on Christ ~ Our hope is on Christ not on ourself.
When we place our hope in God, Jesus gives his love back to us and in that love we work the diligence in Christ - Romans 8:38-39 'For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
The love of Christ makes us un-separable from him and us. This is the root of the diligence we work in Christ
The love we have in him because of Christ love in us. 1 John 4:19 'We love because he first loved us. '
We are selfish by nature to love ourself only, but Jesus broke this curse on the cross to sacrifice him, the love that was shown on the cross acts as a fuel in us to love ‘in christ’. John 3:16 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. '
Root of Diligence is Faith
Hebrews 6:19-20 'We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'
This faith that we have in Christ is like the Anchor for the Soul. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure”
This Faith acts like a ships anchor which holds the ship steadfast no matter what wind / high wave tossing happens in sea to ground in the same place.
Once we place our faith in Jesus, what God does is he makes himself the “Anchor for Soul” our soul is tied to him, he will not let go, once its tied, its firm and secure in his hands. No matter what the enemy plans, it’s impossible to take that from God. The Faith in Jesus plays a critical role in this “anchor for the soul, firm and secure”
Jesus does not force us to have faith. It’s our action to trust him from our heart that makes this faith to come in him.
God uses many past witness / our life lessons to strengthen the faith in us / missionaries life to make this work.. Hebrews 13:7 'Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. '
Without faith its impossible to seek God or please God - Hebrews 11:6 'And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Warning on Laziness / Stress on Obedience
There are many things that deter the Diligence in Christ.
Two things that deter and make us fall from the Diligence in Christ
Laziness in us. We find excuses not to do what God calls us to do out of Laziness.
Obedience in Christ is another important factor that deters our diligence in christ, it stops his plans and makes us take detour in our life. Many times we realize this later only after we go thru struggles of life. For many they never realize this till end of life as Satan blinds their eyes / ears from understanding this..
Laziness
Our work is done by Christ for us. It happens thru the faith we have in him. But that does not stop us from not working hard in our power to give 100% effort to succeed. We cannot be lazy from what we are called to do. We have to work 100% to what we are called to do. We cannot say God will fulfil for me and be still.. Hebrews 6:12 'We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. '
Pray more every day for God’s help to get rid of the laziness spirit thats in you, that says lets slack and have some more time. The spirit of laziness comes from Satan, its a deceiving spirit that makes one feel happy, but soon the happiness robs God’s blessing for you.
Jesus in his explanation of Parables of the bag of Gold, rebuked the laziness “You wicked, lazy Servant” so try to get rid of the laziness in you and work harder to God’s expectations. Matthew 25:26 ' “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? '
Obedience
If God says to do something , obey it immediately. don’t postpone to another day, implicit obedience is the key to inherit the promises that he has planned for you and me.
Our God is a God who works from end to beginning. Isaiah 46:10 'I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ '
Whereas we humans work the opposite as we start from beginning to end. The hope we place in God, he knows the destination and works step by step to make us reach the destination. Each of us have a will to accomplish this when he gets to his kingdom.
The work or size does not matter. but obedience to the work without any laziness is what matters to God. We get what he has planned and we perfect his will.
When God asked Abraham to sacrifice Issac to him, he implicitly obeyed God to take Issac to Mount Moria. God knows Abraham has only one Son that too he got that after a long time in his old age. God wanted to test his obedience and his love to see how much he had love for God.. Genesis 22:2,8-12 'Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” '
What did God do out his obedience, he fulfilled his promise from generation to generation. God choose his one and only Son Jesus to part of his generation to help mankind get rid of sin. Matthew 1:1-2 'This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, '
Outcome of Diligence in Christ
Promise of God to never leave us or forsake us is like a fortnox.. Its safe that cannot be breached.. Hebrews 13:5 ‘…, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
When God promised Abraham to bless. He swore on himself Hebrews 6:13 'When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, '
The words of that is read in Genesis 22 : Genesis 22:15-17 'The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord , that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, '
God’s promise to us comes out of the action we take to him. It goes back to obedience.. We need to get rid of laziness.
God spoke to Abraham directly.. In our days he speaks to us thru the word of God and thru the Holy Spirit. If God asks us to do something hold to the promise and obey.
Our energy to get this Diligence in christ is to read the Word of God (Bible) every day and seek him thru Prayer. We need to spend time with him to understand his plans and directions to walk what we should do. Its like a marathon runner running alone seeing the paths and getting the daily energy from the pitstops he has..
Our God is same for ever he gives us the assurance to run till the end, Don’t be dithered with the struggles that come your way.. Hebrews 13:6,8 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. '