A couple of years ago I received a
book from a cherished friend. It was Never Give
In, The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill
by Stephen Mansfield. Although I was unable at the time
to read it, it has provided some much needed inspiration
as I recently picked it up again.
Winston Churchill was indomitable. You may
remember the often-quoted speech he made at Oxford University.
I always thought it to be a bit ironic, that someone
who took three years to get through the eighth grade
because he had trouble learning English, would be asked
years later to address the commencement exercises at
Oxford University. Of course, he arrived with his usual
props ? a cigar, a cane and a top hat. As Churchill
approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative
applause.
With unmatched dignity, he settled the crowd
and stood confident before his admirers. Removing the
cigar and carefully placing the top hat on the podium,
Churchill gazed at his waiting audience. Authority rang
in his voice as he shouted, 'Never give up!' Several
seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated.
'Never give up!' His words thundered in their ears.
There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for
his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane, and
left the platform. His commencement address was finished.
What great advice! Never give up. No mater what,
never give up! Just never give up. Never give up. Those
sentiments are also echoed in God’s Word.
II Corinthians
3:18; 4:1:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 4:1Therefore seeing we have
this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
We “have this ministry,”
or as the Greek puts it, “therefore having this
ministry.” There should be no doubt in our mind;
we have this ministry because WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY.
Our lives have been touched by the master’s hand
and we make beautiful music together. The Living Translation
translates II Corinthians 4:1, “And so, since
God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry,
we never give up.” I love that statement. WE NEVER
GIVE UP!
Do you see what God sees when you look in a mirror?
Do you see the glory of the Lord and the brilliance
of the Christ in you? Do you see that you have a ministry?
God has called you to serve. (That’s what “ministry”
means; it is a service.)
We can’t let anything or anyone deter us.
Paul asked the Galatians:
Galatians 3:1:
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye
should not obey the truth….
We know we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood but against principalities and
powers of darkness. We can’t let the pressures
of this life and the discouragement that comes from
setbacks and disappointments cause us to give up. We
must not quit!
I was involved with an over 300-mile run from
Rome City, Indiana to Athens Ohio. It was run by hundreds
of people in 10-mile segments. We called it, The
Servant’s Course. There was a lot of excitement
in the runners. They started each segment with enthusiasm;
the challenge was finishing with the same exuberance.
Those of us working and helping coordinate the race
had to remember there were over 30 legs to the race
even when each group finished their leg, we couldn’t
quit until the entire course was finished.
It's not enough for us to begin the race, but
we must finish it. Our adversary works hard to wear
us down and cause us to lose heart and faint in our
minds. Don’t let it happen to you. Stay in the
race!
Hebrews 10:23-25:
Let us hold fast the profession [confession, homologia]
of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that
promised;) 24 And let us consider one
another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching.
We are to hold fast, keep
secure, keep firm command of or control over what we
say so we can direct what we do and finish our course.
It will take considering one another and provoking one
another; it will require being together and exhorting
one another. Let’s finish our course. Paul charged
Timothy in this respect.
II Timothy 4:2-8:
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away
their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto
fables. 5 But watch thou in all
things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to
be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid
up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and
not to me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing.
Let’s love his appearing
and finish our course in anticipation of it. We started
the course, and it’s important that we finish
it. Just never quit. Never give up on God; He never
gives up on you. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
a good work in you will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ.” Paul was confident that God would
continue to work with us until Christ comes back for
us at which time we will all be changed. Until then,
let’s finish our course and never give up!
