Do you have a reason to keep going in life today?
News has been bad lately, really bad.
The world has been burning, for a long time.
I have heard about so many people I know who have had a family member die because of COVID-19, accidents, cancer, etc. My heart has been so sad and broken these past few days, and the question arises, "What reasons do I have to keep going in life?" This broken world, all these broken lives, and these broken moments can bring about pain and sadness that is too much to carry. What does one do, or where does one look to find Reasons to Keep Going?
As a Christian, I look outside of myself so that I may find sustainable reasons to continue living in this world damaged by sin. I look to God's word, and here I share with you some reasons I have found.
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (NKJV).
Context: Paul is talking to a group of Christians who are being persecuted for their faith in a land that is not their true home. These Christians are dying in gruesome ways; some were used as live torches for Nero's dinner parties and others were torn apart by dogs. Peter writes to people who are losing their lives and points them to find Hope outside of themselves. Christian, Here are some Reasons to Keep Going:
Keep Going because of God's Abundant Mercy.
Verse 3a says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy...” Mercy? Webster defines mercy as “compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power.” (1)
The Abundant mercy that Peter refers to here was shown in the salvation gifted to all of humanity in Jesus the Christ. Peter is talking to a group of people who know their sins are forgiven and know their relationship with God was restored.
The words of Paul can apply to these Christians also, 'But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Ephesians 2-4, NASB, emphasize added). Does this verse apply to you also, has God made you alive together with Christ? If so, then you have a reason to rejoice because having your sins forgiven by God's grace makes all the difference in the world.
Amid this broken world, Christians can Keep going because of God’s Abundant Mercy.
*Think about the time God forgave you abundantly and made you a new creature in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17), let that moment bring you joy again.*
Keep Going because Jesus the Christ is Alive!
Verse 3 finishes by saying, “who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... “ Christian, that first Easter Sunday morning still has meaning and impact today.
Do you know why we have a living Hope? Because Jesus Christ is still alive. Gautama Buddha is still Dead, Confucius is still dead, Muhammad is still dead, but Jesus was dead and rose from the grave on the third day! Jesus said Himself, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25a NKJV).
Jessy Dixon penned these beautiful words about Jesus' resurrection:
Gone, the tomb is empty
Gone, to sit at the Father's side
Gone, over death triumphant
Gone, sin is defeated
Gone, Jesus lives forevermore!"
Elsewhere Peter said, "God raised [Jesus] up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” (Acts 2:24, NASB). This truth brings humanity tremendous Hope if they are disciples of Jesus because Jesus says, "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25b, NKJV).
Bill Gaither penned these hope-filled words:
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives.”
Amid this broken world, Christians can Keep going because Jesus the Christ is Alive.
*Think about how the resurrection of Jesus Christ can give you daily Hope. How would that affect the way you live?*
Keep Going because of Our Inheritance
Verse 4, "to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you...." Oh, friend, I hope joy has been kindling in your heart!
Peter says four things about our inheritance:
a. It’s Imperishable. Animals, Plants, Insects, and People die here on earth but in comparison, Our Inheritance will never decay nor die.
b. Our inheritance is undefiled. Meaning there will be in the New Heaven and New Earth, no death, no sin, and no Satan. Sinners will not be there also, only Saints. Only those who have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14) will be allowed in.
c. Our inheritance is unfading. It will not rust away and lose its beauty like a rose given on Valentine's Day here on Earth. There will never be a moment in eternity where we will cease to be amazed and in awe in the presence of God
d. Our inheritance is being reserved for us. Leonard Ravenhill said, “The Devil is mighty, but God is ALMIGHTY…”(2, emphasis added). No one will take our inheritance!
"Biblical Hope calls us to a bigger perspective. Only the Christian worldview gives a full voice to Hope, a certain future breaking into a present reality." -Tanya Walker
Amid this broken world, Christians can Keep going because of Our Inheritance.
*Read Revelation 21:1-9. Think about and allow this truth to give you joy and let God create holy anticipation for what is to come, while you are waiting because God will one day make "all things new" (Rev. 21:5).*
Keep Going because God can Keep You.
Verse 5, “who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." God has enough power to save us from sin and to keep us away from sin.
We are saved by grace through faith and we are kept by grace through faith.
Adam Clarke said it like this, “No persevering without the power, and no power without faith” (3). Through the disappointments, pain, sufferings, financial troubles, loss of loved ones, embarrassments, tribulations, tears, and many storms of life that the Christian may face, God has enough grace to keep us in the midst of them all.
Kirk Franklin penned these encouraging words because of God's keeping power:
I know that I can stand.
No matter what may come my way,
My life is in your hands."
Jude makes one of my favorite doxologies, “'Now to HIM who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen'" (1:24-25, NK
What’s happening in your world today? What has sin broken? What has Satan stolen, killed, or destroyed? How is your heart aching? Whether your pain is "big" or "small," it is still pain. Scripture gives Christians many more reasons to keep going amid the different situations that they may experience in life, and I want you to notice that the reasons are not dependent on you at all. The Hope that the Christian has is all dependent on God.
Read the words to this hymn penned by Katharina von Schlegal:
Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God, to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul, thy best thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end."
I want to ask you the same question I started with. Do you have a reason to keep going in life today?
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ‘ashes."-Elisabeth Elliot
Notes
(1). https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mercy
(2). Ravenhill, L. (2004). Why Revival Tarries. Grand Rapids: Baker Pub. Group.
(3). https://www.primobibleverses.com/view/adam-clarke/21444
(4). Elliot, E. (2012). These Strange Ashes. Grand Rapids: Fleming H. Revell Company.