Be Ye Steadfast
Jesse M. Hendley
Luke 9:62
Steadfastness! That is a good word. Let us turn to Luke 9:62. These are the words of Jesus. I'd rather know what JESUS has to say than to know anything else in the world. Here our Lord says, ''No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.''
Jesus here is talking to Christians who ''look back.'' Back to what? Back to the old life! Back to the world! Back to the life they lived before they were converted. That means they are not satisfied. There is a longing in their heart. They are not satisfied with what God has to offer them, so they look back. Beloved, the Lord warns against that. When we start out with the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to go ON with Him. We are to break completely from the old life and burn every bridge behind us, so there cannot be a retreat. To decide for Christ is a LIFE decision. NO MAN---it doesn't matter who he is, or what his position in life may be, or what his influence is---NO MAN, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Those are the words of Jesus, and He means just exactly that.
Unfit. Why? Because that man is not LETTING God have control. His heart is not with God. He is a subject outwardly, but he is not a subject inwardly to God. He does not thoroughly love God; there is some love for the world in his heart, some love for sin. He looks longingly at unbelievers and feels torn between the two lives, one for God and one for the world. And he is a miserable person, the man who halts between two opinions! You have got to MAKE YOUR CHOICE. YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH. The Lord has made this very plain in His Word.
I wonder how many of you are ''looking back'' today, toward the world, toward the sin you renounced when you came to Christ. The world does have ''fun,'' but it is of short duration. At last it stingeth as an adder, it striketh like a serpent. SIN is always that way. Worldliness is always that way ...
Jesse M. Hendley
Luke 9:62
Steadfastness! That is a good word. Let us turn to Luke 9:62. These are the words of Jesus. I'd rather know what JESUS has to say than to know anything else in the world. Here our Lord says, ''No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.''
Jesus here is talking to Christians who ''look back.'' Back to what? Back to the old life! Back to the world! Back to the life they lived before they were converted. That means they are not satisfied. There is a longing in their heart. They are not satisfied with what God has to offer them, so they look back. Beloved, the Lord warns against that. When we start out with the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to go ON with Him. We are to break completely from the old life and burn every bridge behind us, so there cannot be a retreat. To decide for Christ is a LIFE decision. NO MAN---it doesn't matter who he is, or what his position in life may be, or what his influence is---NO MAN, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Those are the words of Jesus, and He means just exactly that.
Unfit. Why? Because that man is not LETTING God have control. His heart is not with God. He is a subject outwardly, but he is not a subject inwardly to God. He does not thoroughly love God; there is some love for the world in his heart, some love for sin. He looks longingly at unbelievers and feels torn between the two lives, one for God and one for the world. And he is a miserable person, the man who halts between two opinions! You have got to MAKE YOUR CHOICE. YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH. The Lord has made this very plain in His Word.
I wonder how many of you are ''looking back'' today, toward the world, toward the sin you renounced when you came to Christ. The world does have ''fun,'' but it is of short duration. At last it stingeth as an adder, it striketh like a serpent. SIN is always that way. Worldliness is always that way ...
There are 9721 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
