Don’t Quit
An anonymous poem that I recently came across may help us as we strive to be a success, not only in this life, but also seek to be successful in making it to the eternal rest promised by God in His Word to those who will be obedient and faithful. I have included it at the end of the article.
But first, let’s see what God’s Word has to say about quitting. In the letter to the Philippian church, the Spirit had Paul write in Philippians 1:27 how the lives of those and all Christians are to be ones of continual and faithful service to God in according to His Word. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Then, as we look to 1Thessalonians 3:8 we find that life itself is contingent remaining engaged in our dedication to God. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
This is not the only place the church was told to “stand fast”. In the second letter to the church in Thessalonica, in 2Thessalonians 2:14-15, we see not only that which called us to obedience, but also where these Christians had received that gospel. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. We also read of this in Galatians 5:1, where they told that if they quit, they would be again bound by the sin from which they had recently been made free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. This also applies to us as we live our lives in the hectic world of our times. As one brother once stated: “There is just no place to get off”. We must not quit as to do so is disastrous.
As Paul wrote in 1Timothy 4:7-9, to his young protégé’ Timothy, as directed by the Spirit, he told Timothy what is of most importance. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. This is good advice for all, whether in the days of Paul and Timothy, or in this time in which we live and serve.
Keep in mind that we’ve not made it yet. 1John 2:25 tells us that we only have eternal life in promise, until we have completed our journey. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. This is affirmed by the Words of the Spirit through the pen of Paul in Philippians 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Don’t Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill.
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to cry.
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must - - but don’t you quit!
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow - -
You might succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man.
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out - -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt - -
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit - -
It’s when things seem worse that you mustn’t quit.
Article – Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ Poem - Anonymous
