Tuesday 16 August 2016

They could not make them quit

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a written answer was returned concerning this matter. – Ezra 5.5

Once the people got going they were really going. With the encouragement of the prophets and the knowledge that God was with them. The opposition was still there after fourteen years. But now, they were determined and they could not be stopped.

I really like this kind of determination. I am a sports fan so have been watching the Olympics off and on. The other day a British distance runner was tripped and fell. He was the favourite. Instead of filling off the track and twisting in agony he simple rolled back into a run and went on to win the race. I have seen some videos of runners who battled pain and weariness to get to the end of the race. These folks had a race to run and they could not be stopped. I like the determination that says ‘you’re not going to stop me’ and keeps on keeping on.

We all face those challenges. They are times when we feel like we have just had enough and the enemy tries to discourage us and we think it would be so much easier to stop. Why bother with prayer and Bible reading? Why bother with church? Why bother with telling people about Jesus? Why bother with holy living? Why not just go along with the crowd and quit trying so hard?

Because it is worth it to keep on going in the long run. Because in the long run everything that seems so dear and so precious is going to be gone. For those of us getting on a bit eternity is becoming more and more real.

We can’t quit now. The finish line is in sight. Let's not let anything make us quit.

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