Proverbs 10:29
The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
by John M. Duvall
There are people in this world who will undertake tasks which are beyond their physical strength. They approach these seemingly impossible tasks as opportunities to make themselves stronger. They realize they will likely fail in their first several attempts. However, with each attempt and failure, these people become stronger and stronger. They continue working until they are able to accomplish the task at hand. This type of determination is a must for followers of God.
In order to serve the Lord, following Him to the “ends of the earth,” a person must be willing to set out upon what would seem to be an unobtainable goal. Considering the greatness and awesomeness of God, who would have ever thought the possibility of pleasing Him existed? Who can truly serve the Lord well enough to find His approval? Who can truly climb high enough to finally have fellowship with God? When a person reads of the God who literally created the universe, the God who destroyed the world with a great flood, the God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, that person may shake his head, saying “To please such a God must be impossible.” However, the very same Bible reveals a God who saved eight souls because of their righteousness, a God who enabled a young man to kill a giant with a small, smooth stone. This is the same God who looked down upon a lost and dying world and had compassion.
God, sitting upon His great and mighty throne in heaven, made the impossible possible for those who will simply follow His word. One must look to Jesus Christ and His wonderful Word and believe. The wonderful word of Christ contains the good news of salvation. Regarding the proclamation of this good news, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16, ESV) The lost soul must strive to follow Jesus’s Word in faithful obedience. Once in that saved state, in fellowship with God, the once poor lost soul can now continue doing that which was at one time thought impossible. He can walk in step with Jesus Christ, living his life as God wills.
Such journeys will not always be easy. There may be times when the follower of Christ must push ahead even when he believes he does not have the strength. Much to his amazement, that follower of God, even if he falls down, will find that his strength and his faith will grow, becoming stronger day by day. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4, ESV) Consider the admonition of Solomon: “The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.” (Proverbs 10:19) When the upright walks in the Lord, he will find strength for his life of service. However, if a person becomes a worker of iniquity, then all he has to look forward to is eternal destruction. Keep pushing ahead in your service unto God. Find those higher mountains to climb, lift those heavier weights, and attempt what some would declare to be impossible.
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