One of the real problems of Christianity is a lack of dedicated service to Christ. You must serve Christ zealously and faithfully. Living the Christian life is pictured in the New Testament as: warfare (Eph. 6:10-18), an athletic event (1 Cor. 9:24-26; Gal. 5:7). A good start, so important in a race, does not insure a successful finish. Christians need to remember these charges for running the Christian race.
(1) "...stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13). Paul exhorts the Corinthians to stand fast. Meaning, stand fast in the truth (Jno. 17:17), God's word (Psa. 119:9), the New Testament (2 Cor. 3:6), the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16), the doctrine or teaching of Christ (2 Jno. 9). This is the urgency needed by all saints! We must prove our worth as a soldier of Christ and fight the spiritual warfare that Christians must wage! Stand fast in the faith, always be eager to defend (1 Pet. 3:15) and contend (Jude 3). Stand for things which Christ stood for, stand for the things which Christ died for, stand and ask for the old paths (Jer. 6:16).
(2) "Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22). When one has learned what is good or true, and what is evil and false, he should hold fast the true and abstain from the evil. In 1 Timothy 6:11-12, follow a discourse on a number of evils and the disastrous results that come upon those that follow such things. Paul addresses Timothy as a "man of God", indicating that he is one who is committed to God in this life. In view of the evils just mentioned (1 Timothy 6), Paul urges Timothy to "flee these things" (vs. 11). There are times when running is not cowardly, but wise. It is absurdity, foolishness and madness to remain in the presence of temptation needlessly. It is not wisdom to deliberately place one's soul in jeopardy. When Joseph was approached by the wife of Potiphar for the purpose of fornication, Joseph fled the scene completely. We cannot always avoid temptations, but we do not have to remain in their presence. "Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on" (Prov. 4:14-15).
(3) "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jno. 14:15). This says in effect, that love for the Lord is evidenced in keeping His commandments. If you'll keep on loving Me, you'll keep my commandments. "And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keep-eth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him" (1 Jno. 2:3-5). "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (Jno. 15:9-10). This love for God is not simply an emotion. It is a disposition that seeks the glory of God. It is an attitude of submission to His will. It is the desire to do His bidding! Love is not only obeying commands; it is having them! "He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to Him" (Jno. 14:21). Love MUST be expressed in obedience! Such glorifies the Son and thus, glorifies the Father. Do you love the Father? Do your actions show that you do?
(4) "...Be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living" (1 Pet. 1:15). We are encouraged to live lives of complete dedication to God. As the song we sing, we need to:
Take time to be Holy,
speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His word.
Are we taking time to be holy when we want worship services shortened? Or, when we want the sermon not to be over twenty minutes? We want the prayers short, the songs few. What's the big hurry? Are we in a hurry to visit the sick and erring after services? No, we want to go to a restaurant and eat a delicious meal, watch TV or whatever we desire. If the Lord’s Supper is served first, some brethren will partake of it and leave on a trip the minute after they partake! Is this taking time to be holy, or is this taking time for our own desires? We need to forget the cares of the world and take time to be holy! We should study God's word and pray every day.
The truth of God has been placed in the care of those who love the Lord. It is an awesome responsibility, so let us handle it aright, love it, obey it, live it and stand fast for it!