the faithful

One of the most impressive things you will find in a church are people who have remained faithful to the vision for years and years.  With a sad heart I watched a lot of good people come and go, some in less than a month.  Everyone of them had a justifiable reason for checking out but very few of them ever told me what it was. 
 
Proverbs 20:6 Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one?
 
People who are loyal and faithful to God have a good reason, they know that without Him they would have a club membership to hell.  All my life I wanted just one thing, I wanted to go to heaven.  On the night that Jesus saved me, I set my hand to the plow and I never looked back.  Some ask the question: What do you think of once saved always saved?  I don’t think about it, I don’t want out.
 
Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will abound with blessings.
 
When I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord I knew nothing about any kind of blessing. I just wanted to be saved and nothing more.  It has been well over thirty-five years now and the Lord has blessed me more times than I can recall.  I had no idea of all the things a Savior would do, I am now in a committed relationship and I love every day of it.  When a saint forsakes his Lord, he disqualifies himself from a lot of blessings but most don’t seem to care.  I can understand having a casual relationship with a person, but God is not just another person.
 
John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.
 
These disciples witnessed the miracles of Jesus but it did not have a lasting impression on them.  He repeated what He heard His Father say and they didn’t approve of it.  So they went back, they backslid, which means they chose the opposite direction of Jesus.  If we don’t follow Jesus, who do we follow?  The devil has sent out a lot of leaders, folks who lead unsuspecting people in the way of God’s adversary.  When God speaks, He leaves no doubt of what His will and motive is.  The devil promises us everything but he never mentions the degree of compromise we must accept in order to have what he wants to give us.
 
Mathew 25:21 Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
 
God is looking for people who will rule and reign with Him during the millennial reign of Christ.  God is going to replace world leaders with His own people, those who have been faithful to Him.  The Bible makes it very clear that there is rank and file in heaven and it is all determined by faithfulness.  I salute all of the people who held fast to their place in the kingdom, great shall be your reward in heaven.  You may or may not be aware of how hard the devil tried to move you away from your assigned position.  The faithful are a living testimony of faith, perseverance and commitment.  God bless you.

---