What happens when real loneliness and struggle enter your Christian life? What happens when the strength to continue living the Christian life does not seem to be present? I suppose one might abandon the faith. Some, who once believed, have decided to say farewell to God. I suppose one might also say farewell to the Christian community.
One helpful image concerning the Christian life is that of the race. Our conversion begins the race in earnest. The prize at the end is something we cannot see now. The faith we have now is the only assurance we have of that future prize. Further, the prize is something at which many people will have skepticism. Fellowship with God, friendship with Christ in eternity, is not something everyone wants or expects. Many will say that such hope is empty. Further, such a race requires from us some seriousness in setting aside those thoughts and behaviors that hinder us from completing the race. Although such discipline is not easy, we are not alone. We have a cloud of witnesses, present and past, who have gone traveled this path before. Their example should help us remain faithful to God and to the Christian community. We can learn from them. We can learn from their confrontation with doubt, with hardship, and with sin. Mostly, of course, Jesus is our companion in this journey. He will bring the race to completion.
No comments:
Post a Comment