Most of you know that since brother Mack Lyon retired that brother Phil Sanders is the primary speaker on the Sunday morning presentation, “In Search of the Lord’s Way.” Although I didn’t hear all of his sermon that particular day, the title above came from a closing that Phil Sanders recently made on his Sunday morning TV lesson. I couldn’t help but think how simple but how profound that statement was. Let’s consider some of the ramifications of that advice.
When we think of “giving up,” let’s consider a long distance runner in a race in which he could receive a big reward. That reward might be monetary, a trophy or simply recognition as being the best in the race. Whatever the reward, that runner will do everything within his power to prove to himself and to those around that he can endure and finish that race. He won’t easily give up, even at the expense of perhaps suffering physical issues.
Consider that during the race the runner may develop severe pain in his extremities, or he may get too hot and exhausted. Perhaps he feels that he just can’t go on and feels he is too “given out” to continue in the race. Again, even if a runner doesn’t win or place in the race, most athletes will continue in the race just for the satisfaction of proving to themselves and others that they can run the full course.
We’ve heard or witnessed runners “give in” at the end of the race by falling prostrate at the finish line. They were determined to finish the race—what an admirable trait! Because of the stress to his body that he is feeling, the runner may “give in” to the stress and strain. He may not be able to finish the race, and he must feel great defeat and possibly shame at not being able to finish what he started.
What about God’s children running the earthly race to please Him? When one hears and obeys the Gospel, there are many problems and changes to face. The world doesn’t easily accept those who become Christians because they like worldly things. They can put pressure on God’s people and present enticements to sin that sometimes may seem just too much to resist. As Moses was leading the children of Israel to the Promised Land, we see the result of a nation of people who “gave up.” God told them “because all these men have seen My glory and miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness… and have not hearkened to My voice, surely they shall not see the land which I promised to their fathers” (Numbers 14:22). The Israelites “gave up” on ever reaching the Promised Land, and as a result, only Joshua and Caleb received that blessing.
Those Israelite people “gave out.” They wanted to go to the Promised Land, but they wanted to arrive “now.” “All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron and said, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt or… in the wilderness!” (Numbers 14:2). They wanted the blessing of a new land, but they didn’t want to wait for it because they gave out in their travels and the frustration of not being settled.
Sometimes God’s people, old and young alike, “give in” to the pleasure of sin. Moses was a great example of not “giving in” as we read in Hebrews 11:25. “Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” Moses could have figuratively had the “world at his feet,” but in view of eternity, he chose the better part of serving God. That’s what faithful Christians will do, too.
Christians must not give up, give out or give in. The reward is just too great for not giving up, giving out or giving in. The faithful have this promise: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). The first thing that Christians must always do is “first give themselves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5), and when that is truly done, God will provide the strength for not giving up, giving out or giving in!
