Press On! Press On!

by George Slover

"Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35-36).

During my boyhood days, we spent many hours on a lake enjoying the outdoors with boating, camping, swimming, and water skiing. I remember my father patiently teaching someone how to water-ski. The slack would come out of the rope and suddenly Dad’s student would pop up on those skis only to quickly fall. This process would be repeated a number of times until the novice was able to get his balance on those skis. Finally, because of my father’s patience and the student’s perseverance, the mission was accomplished and the student was able to enjoy his ride.

Like water skiing, being successful as a Christian takes many hours of work and perseverance. We are like the boxer who gets knocked down but keeps getting up. It involves doing God’s will even when we don’t feel like it. It is being satisfied with the rewards that don’t come instantly but in the next life. It means not giving up our connection with other Christians. It may be working and earning a paycheck even when we are not wild about the job. It includes resolving conflicts with others and accepting help from others to do the right thing.

The message is clear. It is never God’s will for us to run from a problem, but to press on so that we can go to the next level. The message is clear: Perseverance under pressure pleases God!