Faith Until Death Do Us Part

When young couples start out their lives together they take vows stating their commitment to one another.  One of the lines in the vow is “until death do us part”. Couples are simply stating that they will stay committed to each other until one or both die.  Nothing will separate them except death.  We are to have that same commitment to our Lord through our undying faith and love.

Hebrews Chapter 11 is known as the faith chapter.  It provides us many examples of God’s people who remained faithful through good times and bad times.  It is interesting that there are couple of examples of men who continued exhibiting their faith in God right up until the end of their lives.  We read in Hebrews 11: 21-22

“21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.”

Through these two men’s faith on their death beds others received examples of what faith and worship of God was and others received hope and instructions for the future that would carry a nation on during horrible times.  Not only does our faith carry us through life and bless the Lord, but it can carry others through their lives.  We need to remember our lives and our deaths are to serve as examples to others.  Our faith should provide instruction and hope to others and future generations.

Run, Forrest, Run

To sin or not to sin.  That is the question.  So many times we suddenly find ourselves in the middle of a sin.  It might even be a sin we never even thought we would ever commit, such as adultery.  If we would just use some common sense we wouldn’t get caught in to a sin.  James 4:7-8 gives us a real simple, common sense, approach that will help us not to sin, “⁷ Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!”  Sometimes the fastest solution is just to “flee” or “run the opposite direction” from things that don’t look or feel right.  We may not even know why.  That is just the Holy Spirit dropping us a hint.  More affairs start because someone put them in a situation where they were alone with someone of the opposite sex and they began the emotional bonding through whoa is me conversations.  Just flee that kind of temptation.  Run from the room.  Don’t share your emotions with the opposite sex.  Go instead and find well founded or mature Christian person of your same sex and tell them your problems.  Most of all turn to God.  Just like James 4:8 states – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”  Best way not to sin, spend time with God, and flee things that lead to temptations to sin.  If your over eat, don’t buy cookies!  Then ask God to help control your cravings.