Staying the course

"You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set." Psalm 119.1-3

There can be so much negativity around the foundation of Christianity. There are no jokes, no light stories, and most certainly of all, no grade-A students. To be a Christian is invariably to be a failure according to worldly standards. (1 Corinthians 3.18-23)

But I would rather fail than take the path of least resistance, I would rather go down with the ship than live on in another structure. No there is nothing funny about Christianity (prosperity preachers), no quixotic stories (New Age feel-good stories of grandeur and metaphysical healing), and certainly, the most discouraging of all, no grade-A students ("That which I do not want to do, I do" - Romans 7:15-20).

There is nothing whimsical about Christianity. It is a faith built on the blood of saints. It is brutality, it is constant attack, and it is the working for a heaven beyond comprehension. Does that mean we give up? It shouldn't; rather the opposite. It's simply a problem that needs to be solved, like everything else in life. Just because it doesn't sound good, just because it is not pleasing to the senses, does not mean that we throw in the towel. It means we work harder.

What good is the feel good fuzzy way in moments of confusion when confronted with the crisis of spiritual attack? (for anything opposite of certainty is demonic, 1 Corinthians 14:33) I don't want a universalist way of life that is unsustainable when preservation matters most. Anyone who searches their heart will see there is no genuine sturdiness in not rocking the boat. Go down with the ship, die to self. (Galatians 2:20)

Does this mean we reject people? Of course not. We still love, for God is love and we serve God. (1 John 4.7-8) Are we ignorant? By no means! (2 Corinthians 2:11) Rather, being streamlined means we love MORE. We reject worldly ways, we despise popularity. We serve those who need us to most (James 1.27), not those who live for themselves. (Romans 14.8)

The true Christian will not sabotage scripture, will not hurt a soul, and will fully live and let live (Proverbs 15.27). A Christian will never give up, they will take their lumps, sin and sin again and get up time and again and be stronger for it. When discouraged we study (2 Timothy 3.16-17) when rejected we walk with even more confidence (John 15.18). There are always people who want to help, simply seek them. "Seek and ye shall find". Seek right, and victory is yours, no matter what battle was lost today.