STEADFAST AND UNMOVEABLE
There is a story that goes like this:
Years ago, before the day when she was moth-balled and transformed into a floating museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, one of the largest, most powerful battleships that the world has ever known, the USS Missouri, was cruising off the coast of Nova Scotia in a gale wind blowing and whipping the waves into a frenzy. The great ship, nicknamed the “Mighty Mo”, commanded the seas wherever it would sail. Every ship that would approach her would quickly give way for no one would dare to challenge her 16” guns that were capable of firing a 2000 lb shell for over 20 miles with near pinpoint accuracy.
Long after dark the ocean would rise and fall as the gale winds continued. Then suddenly, dead ahead a light broke through the darkness. The alarm was sounded and the captain was called to the bridge. Surely this was just a passing freighter on its way to a safe harbor.
For an hour the captain tracked the movement of the light but it seemed to be heading straight for the Missouri, not moving even 1 degree to the left or right to avoid collision and getting ever closer in the darkness. Perhaps their radar had jammed, or perhaps they just simply had not seen the lights of the Missouri dead ahead.
The captain decided that it was prudent to send out a warning call to the approaching ship. “Approaching ship, turn 15 degrees south. You are on a collision course with USS Missouri.” The call was answered with this message. “USS Missouri. You are ordered to turn 45 degrees North. You are on a collision course.”
The captain of the Missouri became very angry. The very idea that anyone would challenge his right-of-way on the open seas was appalling to him. He sent out a second message, “Approaching vessel, this is the captain of Navy Vessel, BB11, USS Missouri. You are ordered to turn 15 degrees South and yield right of way.”
The answer came back, “US Navy vessel BB11, USS Missouri, this is the Seaman 1st Class on duty at the Nova Scotia Lighthouse. You are ordered to turn 45 degrees north.”
The captain of the great battleship, with “egg on his face”, quickly ordered the helm to turn 45 degrees north to avoid grounding his ship upon the rocks.
I’m sure that this story isn’t true. It never really happened. But it does serve to make a point for the message that I have for you.
We must never forget that there is but one steadfast and unmovable reference point for life and that is the Word of God. We must also remember that we are to be steadfast and unmovable in our commitment to obeying the Word of God.
The Book of Job says in chapter 14 and verse 1 that, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." Is there anyone here that give me an “AMEN” on that? Job was in the middle of experiencing the greatest trials of any man who ever lived, except for Jesus. With all of the things that were happening to him, I believe that he had learned this lesson the hard way.
Yet we see that Job never failed to believe in God. Oh yes there were times when he would grown weary of life. And who wouldn’t under his circumstances? Job had lost everything. His home was wrecked, his children were dead, his servants were gone, and most of his wealth had been destroyed or stolen. Even his health had left him and he felt as though he was left desolate.
In addition to that, as if that wasn’t enough, three of his “best friends” came along and sat down with him to take part in Job’s pity party. The pity party soon became a Job bashing party though, and that only made matters worse for him.
Job gives me a lot of hope. I have never seen the trials that Job had to face and I hope I never will. But I hope that if such trials were to be unleashed upon us that we would be found as steadfast and unmovable in our faith as Job was.
I just wanted to encourage you in this message to remain steadfast and unmovable in your faith in God. No matter what comes, God is still in control. No matter how hopeless your circumstances may seem; God is still in control. No matter how much the devil throws against you, you can always count on the Light of the World as your beacon of hope.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
I believe that Job had that kind of faith in God and I believe that we must have that kind of faith also. We must be absolutely convinced that God will do what he says he will do. He will never leave us or forsake us, but he will stay by our side. When all the trials of life are over, we must believe that the rewards that await us are far greater than the trials we bore.
Just one glimpse of the glory of Heaven will make the trials and tests of this life fade into nothingness. Just one touch of the Master’s hand and it will be worth it all.
We must anchor our souls in the Rock, Jesus Christ and never look back. This world has nothing to offer that can compare with the wondrous blessings of God.
We must remember that this world is not our home and that this is only a temporary home at best. It will soon be destroyed by fire. The only thing that we stand upon is the Word of God.
The three Hebrew youth, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, knew this lesson all too well. They faced the hottest, fiery trial of all, being literally cast into a fiery furnace because they were not willing to compromise with the world or go back on their belief in God. They were steadfast and unmovable even in the middle of the flames.
I like their answer to King Nebuchadnezzar when he commanded them to bow or burn.
Daniel 3:16-18, "…If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
They could have easily caved in under pressure. No one would have blamed them. No one would have probably cared, except God! How often do we fail to stand the test and cave in when the going gets hot? God never promised us escape from the trials and tests of life, only deliverance through them and from them if would remain steadfast and unmovable.
Then there were Peter and John who faced down the persecution and threats of the Jewish High Priest and his council.
These two disciples were ever ministering and teaching in the temple. Then one day, as they entered in, a miracle was performed and the lame man was healed. Then Peter and John continued to teach God’s Word and preach salvation through Jesus Christ as the only way to Heaven.
This inflamed the Jewish leaders and they brought Peter and John to court to force them to stop preaching. I love the steadfastness of Peter and John as they answered the council.
Acts 4:19-20, "…Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
They were steadfast and unmovable, in the preaching of the gospel. They counted their freedom as nothing compared to obeying the Lord. They counted their lives as nothing in comparison to that life to come and they continued to preach even to the death.
And what about Paul? He said in Acts 20:24, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
And at the end of his life, when he had faced the fiery trials and tests of his long and profitable service to the Lord, this is his final testimony.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
I can only pray that I am as steadfast and unmovable in my own walk with the Lord as Paul was.
We may never receive the praise of men for our work in the Lord, but that’s part of the blessing. We will receive our reward for our steadfast, unmovable faith when we get to Heaven.
I believe that the reward we receive in that day will be worth it all, don’t you?
Why did I give this message? Let me answer that question in closing by reading to you a short passage from the Word of God.
Hebrews 3:13-14, "But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end…"
I said these words as a message of exhortation to each of you. Take hold of the Word of God, your sure guide. Hold on to Jesus, your sure foundation. Don’t allow the tests and trials of life to draw you off course. Don’t allow the deceitfulness of sin to make you doubt God’s power to deliver you and bring you through victoriously.
We are the heirs of salvation! We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ! If we will be steadfast and unmovable in our faith in Christ, the reward of Heaven awaits and it won’t be long until we see Jesus face to face.
