DANGERS OF RESTING BEFORE THE FINISH LINE

MEMORY VERSE: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 81-85, Proverbs 17

One of the biggest concerns in the body of Christ today is that majority of us are beginning to take our foot off the gas. We no longer pray as we used to. We no longer fast as we used to. We longer witness about Christ to people, especially our colleagues at work and neighbours at home, as we used to. We no longer give as we used to. We now count many spiritual activities as a waste of time. The fervency with which some of us used to serve the Lord is no longer there. Many never used to joke with their quiet time. No matter how tired they are, they will read at least a chapter of the bible daily. Today, many of us cannot remember the last time we read a complete chapter of the bible. When i was younger, i remember that everyone’s New Year goals used to be to read the whole bible in a year. During that time, a man of God read the bible nine times in a year. Today, people no longer set such targets for themselves. It used to be a thing of pride to suffer for Christ or for the gospel. Today, being a child of God is no longer cool. No one wants to be like Jesus anymore. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” In other words, saying the sinner’s prayer is not enough. Being born into a Christian family is not enough. You must be upright to the very end. You must not practice sin. If you fall into sin, you repent right away, ask for forgiveness, and move on. You must run from sin until you go to be with the Lord.

Asides this, there is danger is resting before the finish line. 2 Samuel 11:1 says: “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.” When David was meant to be at the battlefront - leading the armies of Israel to war, defending the nation and conquering new territories - he stayed at home to rest. While he was resting, the enemy caught up with him and set a trap for him. King David woke up from bed and decided to take a stroll around his palace. Whilst strolling, he saw Bathsheba bathing. He saw what he was not meant to see and got into trouble. Before he knew what was happening, he had already fallen into the sin of adultery. This mistake cost him all he had ever worked for even the throne. The man who used to reside in the palace now began live in pits. Friend, the enemy is making more effort than ever to get us to fall into sin. He is doing everything possible for us to make a costly mistake and lose the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is not the time to take your foot off the gas. This is not the time to play with your salvation. This is not the time to stop witnessing. This is not the time to joke with your prayer life. This is not the time to lose your zeal for the things of God. This is not the time to relax. This is not the time to joke with your quiet time.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please revive your church.

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