Never Tap Out

"Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (HCSB)

I found this verse during my quiet time this evening, and I wonder why I have never seen this one before, because it so perfectly depicts the hope that I need and use to carry on day by day. 

See, a lot of people around me tell me I should take a break for myself and just rest up so I can better serve others. I can see how this makes sense, but our God does NOT make sense; why should His work in me make sense then? I believe that when we go hard for Jesus, and don't stop even if we are weary, He will be faithful to work in and through us. He tells us to come to Him when we are weary and heavy laden, but He does NOT tell us to sit down and rest up! We need to keep running this race with perseverance, no matter what!

My good friend just recently shared another awesome verse I didn't know about previously with me, and this one also applies: "So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up" (Galatians 6:9 HCSB). We cannot get tired of doing good! If we decide to stop doing good, what kind of image do we portray to our world around us? Christians are supposed to be upright, moral, and gracious. However, because of the way 'Christians' are acting nowadays, Christianity has a negative connotation. People are surprised to hear that I'm Christian, not because I don't act like one, but because I DO act like one.

Why is it surprising to hold a door open for another? See, Christianity has become a label for others to don to make themselves seem better and morally good, when in fact all they do is bring the church down. My youth pastor has an analogy I love about members in the church: there are those that are parasites, who look at church bodies and decide which church best suits them, then leave when times get tough. These parasites only leech the spiritual nourishment they need, and never reinvest that gain into eternity. And then there are teammates, who don't ask: "How can this church benefit me?", but rather: "How can I benefit this church?" Actively involved in ministry, a teammate edifies and builds up the church, living like Christians SHOULD.

So many have grown tired of doing good; so many have given up. As they face the affliction and the hardship that comes from living with Jesus, they understand what it is to carry a cross daily, and they GIVE UP. They do not want their outer, fleshly person to be destroyed, for they want to do their own will and not God's. I have met many athiests who once claimed to be Christians but walked away from the faith because those whom they knew in the church did NOT live like Jesus, like they were called!

This sickness and corruption is everywhere! American consumerism plagues our society! If it doesn't benefit us, we throw it away! Well, God does the same. Don't you think that the God who made you in HIS IMAGE and instilled in you HIS MORALS would follow the same principles as He did in the past? He is UNCHANGING! He will spit those who claim to be His but are unfaithful from His mouth! God will throw those away that do not benefit Him; the Bible even says so! Matthew 13:24-30 holds the parable of wheat and weeds; read it if ya like! But verse 30 says: "Let both [wheat and weeds; Christ-like Christians and worldy Christians] grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I'll tell the reapers: 'Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn'" (HCSB). 

We CANNOT give up when we experience affliction. No affliction is so great that we cannot go on; God has strength for us all. And, like 2 Corinthians says, our inner person (our soul) is being renewed day by day! We don't need to fear the painful tearing away of the old man; for he is dead and gone. As we come to life in our faith, and shed our past ways, it WILL hurt. We will be in agony until the day we see Jesus with our own eyes! Just like Trip Lee says: "If it don't hurt, than you ain't lovin hard!" When we love Jesus with abandon, leaving behind all of ourselves, it WILL hurt. Love isn't mamby pamby easy stuff. It's hard. It hurts. It breaks down walls and defenses and confronts. But it edifies and builds up Godly character as well! I have never met someone who did NOT appreciate receiving love from another; we are made to desire love! God made us in His image, and HE desires love, and so we desire love as well!

Don't give up. Don't tap out. First string quarterbacks get tackled a whole lot more than third string quarterbacks. First strings know the game well, and play it well, and are paid better. Third strings warm the bench, watch from the sidelines, and ride the wave of victory that the first strings work so hard to achieve. Run to Jesus, who strengthens! He will give you faith and hope and rest! Just don't sit down and give up; don't label yourself a Christian and NOT live like Him! #LiveItLikeJesus with abandon! Look to what is unseen - our hope for heaven and Jesus Himself - for THAT in eternal.