Everyone may leave you…but Never Him!

I read a funny story that at the same time communicates a great reality about our God! There were two soldiers that participated in the Western Army war games. They had been ordered to make their way to a bridge, and guard it. They were told to stand on duty at the bridge until relieved. They went and they guarded…and guarded...for three days and three nights without food and without blankets. On the fourth day they were FOUND! They were guarding the wrong bridge!

We laugh…but must admire their commitment to their call as solders!

Jesus was such a person, committed to His call:

Luke 9:51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

Our Lord had “tunnel vision” when it came to what He had committed to do for the redemption of mankind! That same tenacity is again expressed in His last statement to his disciples before He returned to Glory:

Matthew 28:19–20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Many remember the command to disciple, but forget the promise of verse 20: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The commitment of our Lord to be present with us all the way into eternity is so important because the war we are in will attempt to wear us down and tempt us to quit! How many believers I have counseled say they feel they are “all alone!” Nothing could be further from the truth! 

Jesus is fully committed to us and will walk with us through every trial, even the ones that are caused by our own failures! 

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

This Truth should bring us assurance to remain in the race until the end! No matter the weight of the circumstances, the depth of hurt or the guilt the enemy sows into our life, Jesus is committed to being with us until He brings us to Glory!

Consider how Faithful He is to us:

{1} He is Faithful in His work.

1 Thes. 5:24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

2 Thes. 3:3-4 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.

{2} He is Faithful in the difficulties of this life.

                  (a) Understanding

John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

                  (b) Chastisement

Psalm 119:75  I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it.

Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted

                  (c) Testing

1 Corinthians 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

                  (d) Persecution

1 Peter 4:19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Even when we sin against Him, He does not turn on us! Instead He is faithful to be with us and offer us fellowship again!

{3} Sin

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Satan tries to use our emotions to make us feel abandoned and all alone. Stand against that lie! The vision God has given you to serve Him is not only given by the God of the universe…it is guaranteed by Him! Just cooperate!

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

The So What: This week commit that loved one to the Lord because He is faithful! Take time to see God's faithfulness in all four aspects of His teaching; Let God's faithfulness be the foundation of your fellowship with Him.