by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
It has probably been correctly estimated that if we were somehow able to round up all the
unfaithful members of the Lord’s church in our community, the existing church building would be
overflowed and unable to hold the crowd. If you try, you can probably think of dozens of unfaithful
members of the congregation, who no longer attend at all. I have a collection of old directories
from here and a number of other congregations, and I occasionally go back and try to account for
members we no longer see — members who have become unfaithful. It is a sad reality, that many
who enthusiastically begin the Christian life lose heart and stop keeping the faith. It has been
observed that in the great crucible of Christian life, each of us shall live long enough to become
unfaithful, if we allow that too happen.
Have you ever noticed the many passages in God’s word encouraging us to remain faithful?
“Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you
into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death,
and I will give thee the crown of life,” (Revelation 2:10). “Wherefore, brethren, give the more
diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble,”
(2 Peter 1:10). “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:
henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing,”
(2 Timothy 4:7-8). “Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things,
I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord,” (Matthew 25:21, 23).
Christ does not call us to be faithful for a little while, but all the way through. The Christian
race is not a 50-yard dash, but is more like a long-distance marathon. Only those who faithfully
finish the course completely will receive the reward.
Faithfulness requires us to keep our focus on Jesus Christ, and never allow Satan to distract
us from the goal. It requires us to overcome all manner of temptations, trials, and tendencies to get
sidetracked or disheartened. It requires us not to get burned out, or fall away because of exhaustion.
It requires us to pace ourselves, and be patient. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me,”
(Psalms 23:4).
We will be taking a closer look at unfaithfulness in this morning’s sermon, as we conclude
our series on Urgent Threats. Unfaithfulness is surely among the most serious and alarming threats
to us individually, and we need to give urgent attention to addressing it effectively.
If you are reading this article and are not fully faithful in your Christian service, may I urge
you to heed our Lord called to faithfulness. Remember that many well intended people have started
out in the Christian life, but for various reasons have faltered along the way. Some have disengaged
because of boredom or shifting interests. Somehow have become offended, hurt or resentful over
unfortunate events, or differences of opinion. Some have underestimated the commitment it would
take to be a Christian, and have simply declined to continue. Whatever the reason for
unfaithfulness, it will never hold up at the great Judgment Day.
Don’t let Satan drag you down. Don’t let others discourage you, even hypocrites in the
church who remind us that the very best members of the church are still quite human. The divine
side of the church is perfect, but the human side is far from it. Many have become unfaithful
because they became disillusioned. They thought they were stepping into a fantasy world of
perfection, and when that unrealistic image was shattered, they gave up on Jesus Christ! What a
tragic sequence of events! As Cecil Alexander worded it back in 1852: “Jesus calls us o’er the
tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea; Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, saying, “Christian,
follow me.” May we follow indeed Him—and all the way to our heavenly Home!
A Call to Faithfulness
