“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for
whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will
of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit
reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due
season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:7-9).
Faithfulness is a
requirement for every Christian. We must be devoted and firmly hold to the
teachings of the Bible, and live true to its commands. As God is faithful, He
expects us to likewise be faithful. Yet always doing right in God’s sight is
not easy. But remember, God knows if we are faithful or not, and He will reward
or punish us according to our life.
Why do some people fail
to remain faithful Christians? What does it require to remain faithful? These
are vital questions we need to answer. God promised great blessings to the
faithful; Jesus promised the saints in Smyrna, “Do not fear
any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about
to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have
tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life" (Revelation 2:10). How
do we remain faithful to God and enjoy such promises?
We face many temptations
today which will draw us away from God, unless we are strong and careful. Jesus
warns us not to be like those who allow tribulations, persecutions, cares of
this world, or riches to choke out God's word and entice them away from God
(Matthew 13:1-23). Bearing up under such pressures is difficult. We must always
be on guard, and we must always be growing to become even stronger in our
faith.
Near the end of the
first century, the apostle Peter wrote to Christians who were finding it
increasingly difficult to remain faithful to God and Christ. The persecution
was more severe, and the cost of true discipleship became greater. To encourage
them, Peter reminds them of their hope of dwelling with God if they remain
faithful, no matter the cost.
Peter taught them to strive to be like
God. “But as He who
called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is
written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). I cannot be a faithful Christian and live a
worldly life. Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). “You also, as living stones, are being built up a
spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God through Jesus Christ ... But you are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the
praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who
once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained
mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:5,9-10). Being a royal priesthood and a holy nation
takes hard work, but the results are worth the effort.
To be faithful, we must submit
to authority. God has established
various forms of authority in our society (rulers, judges, etc.), in the home
(the husband), and in the church (elders). We must respect and obey them as
they are God’s servants, working for our benefit (Rom. 13:4-6). “Therefore submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king
as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment
of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of
God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men --
as free, yet not using your liberty as a cloak for vice, but as servants of
God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:13-17). If I refuse to be a faithful
citizen and obey the laws of my country, how can I be faithful to God and obey
His law? I must obey each law of my country, unless that law opposes God’s law
(Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 5:29).
Strong, faithful
Christian mates respect each other in marriage. “Likewise you wives, be submissive to
your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a
word, may be won by the conduct of their wives ... Likewise you husbands, dwell
with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker
vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may
not be hindered” (1
Peter 3:1,7). The marriage relationship requires both parties to love and
respect one another. As I grow in this relationship, I can also grow in my
relationship with Christ. Like any family, we as Christians have
responsibilities toward one another. The more I grow, the better able I am to
fulfill these responsibilities.
Peter also reminds us
that strong Christians serve and sacrifice for one another. Contrary to what most people think, strength
does not come from being served, but through serving others. “Finally, all
of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for
reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this,
that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9). Jesus often taught that the way to greatness and
happiness is through service to others (Matthew 20:25-28). So much more can be
accomplished when we are looking for ways to serve others, instead of demanding
that others serve us. The serving Christian grows in faith, strength, and hope
daily. “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart” (1
Peter 1:22).
Faithful Christians are willing to
suffer for Christ. If He was willing to
suffer so intensely for us, should we expect to be free from similar suffering
in our Christian life? To the contrary, Peter writes, “Beloved, do
not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake
of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad
with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are
you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is
blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a
murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet
if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify
God in this matter” (1
Peter 4:12-16). As Jesus considered it a privilege to suffer for us (Hebrews
12:1-2), so we are honored to suffer for Him. Such suffering is should make us
stronger (Romans 5:1-5). We are encouraged in our suffering, “For I consider
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
To grow stronger, we must rely
upon God. “Likewise you
younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive
to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But
gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand
of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for
He cares for you” (1
Peter 5:5-7). I must always remember that my ability to endure and grow does
not come from within me, but from God. He is the giver of life and vitality (1
Cor. 3:5-7). Without God in my life, I could not accomplish anything of
lasting, eternal importance. We, like the Corinthians, need to remember:“Not that we are sufficient
of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency
is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5).
We must also be watchful of
our enemy. “Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Our enemy has great power. He is not like us -- he
is not always visible, or touchable. Paul reminds us of the powerful nature of
our enemy: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places” (Ephesians 6:11-12).
Satan walks about, back and forth like a stalking lion, waiting for someone to
stray from the group so he can catch and destroy him. To remain strong, and
protected, we must maintain our fellowship with God and our brethren. We must
continue to walk with them. Also, we must always be on guard against the devil
and withstand him to the best of our ability. We can be encouraged by the fact
that “... He who is in you [God] is greater than he who is in the world [Satan]” (1 John 4:4). Always remember: “No temptation has overtaken you except
such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be
tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the
way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
To be strong and faithful,
I must
add certain qualities to my life. Christianity involves removing undesirable characteristics, and
adding certain good ones (Colossians 3:1-17). As we diligently add these
characteristics, each one enhances the others. “But also for this
very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue,
to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to
self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will
be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For
he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten
that he was purged [cleansed] from his old sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election
sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance
will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-11). When I
possess an active, life-changing faith, a determination to always do right,
knowledge to discern right, the ability to control myself, and the ability to
resist evil and remain steadfast under life’s pressures, I will then possess
humble reverence toward God, love for the brethren, and even greater love
toward all. These characteristics must be growing and abounding in my life for
me to be the faithful Christian God wants me to be.
Furthermore, the
faithful Christian must remember the truth. There are two phases of Christian teaching: preaching the gospel
to lost; and exhorting the saved to greater faithfulness. Man often forgets the
lessons of the past. The only guarantee against apostasy is ceaseless vigilance
against error and constant instruction to those who have received the truth.
For this reason, Peter warns and admonishes,“Therefore I will not be
negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them, and are
established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in
this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off
my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to
ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease" (2 Peter 1:12-15).I must never become satisfied
with my knowledge of Scripture. To remember God’s truth, I must continue to
study and meditate upon it (2 Timothy 2:15; Psalm 1; 119:11).
The mature, faithful
Christian must reject the false teachers. I cannot remain faithful if I am listening to
and following false teachers, for they will lead me farther away from God.
Elsewhere we are instructed, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out
into the world” (1 John 4:1). “Now I urge
you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the
doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve
our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering
speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:17-18). I must not allow anyone to lead
me astray from God’s truth, for only in following that truth can I remain free.
To forsake the truth and return to a life of sin will make my life even worse than
it was before I became a Christian. "For if, after they have escaped the
pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse
for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have
known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered to them" (2 Peter 2:20-21). How terrible to lose the blessing to spend
eternity with God.
Finally, Peter reminds
us that faithful Christians must prepare for Christ’s return. Please do not be deceived, like many have
been, about this grand event. Christ will come again; the world and entire
universe will be destroyed; we will stand before the Great Judge and be held
accountable for our conduct in this life. “But the day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and
the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are
in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking
for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens
will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent
heat?” (2 Peter 3:10-12). In
view of this certainty, what manner of person should you be? Are you growing
stronger in order to be prepared? Even if Christ waits another thousand years
before returning, I will some day die, and I must be prepared! Only by being a
strong, faithful Christian can I be ready.
Our Christian faith and
life is precious and should be treasured above all else. We must protect it and
do everything we can to grow spiritually and remain faithful. Only then can we
enjoy God’s greatest blessings. We, like Paul must be able to say “I have fought
the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there
is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have
loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
“You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand,
beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the
error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).
Pastor Rolando Ramos
