Luke 14: 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
The devil talks to us. Has he ever told you you’re nothing because you’re a Christian? He’ll ask what good it does to go to church. He’ll say ‘aren’t things harder on you because you’re a Christian?’ Then we’ll think ‘well, I’ll just give it up.’ The devil hates it because we’re Christians and have given our hearts to the Lord. That’s why there is a struggle, and if you don’t have one you’d better check your saved barometer and make sure you’re saved.
We see the wicked doing so well. We’ve served the Lord for years. Now we see that things aren’t like they used to be. No, they are not. Now is today. The past is the past. Every church can look back and see bigger crowds. The devil was working all those years ago. He’s working now. When you go to work the devil is waiting. He is determined to knock us down. We can’t put it in neutral.
Jesus isn’t our co-pilot. He ought to be our pilot. The amount of lordship we allow Jesus is important. Not everyone that comes to church is saved. I’m not sinless or faultless. None of us are. The devil says give it up. Stay at home. He still does it to us even after all these years. His success feeds off our weakness. Verse 27 says and whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. We have a responsibility to the Lord. We want to finish our race. Jesus starts us and with his help we can finish. He is the author and finisher of our faith. We must hang in there and be strong.
Pray. We know how. We need prayer more now than ever. The devil knows we don’t have much longer. Between now and when the Lord comes back the devil’s intent is to discourage us from building what God wants us to build. Never think you don’t need the Word. We need to be taught it now and tomorrow. Don’t get tired of it. If you do it’s time to hit the altar. Don’t give God a recorded message as a prayer. If he calls, talk to him person to person. We learned how to pray; have we unlearned it? Prayer and Bible study is the key.
Who of us intending to build anything starts and quits thinking it will build itself. We intend to do lots of things. I started a project in the basement a few years ago and took a break. Well, I just finished it a few weeks ago. We all have a tower to build. The only way war is ever won goes from the generals all the way to the soldier in the fox hole. Paul could have used lots of help at the end but only Luke was there. We all need each other. I’m glad the Lord reminds us we need to keep building.
Romans 12 sums it up. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. This is the injunction for all of us. We don’t have to quit. We can hang in there. I want to be known as one who finished the course. We’re too close to the finish to stop. We need to work and serve the Lord now. One day it will be over. Till then, determine to be a finisher.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 