Why Am I Doing This; Cannot I Just Stop? Series

Every time I exercise, which is seven days a week now because of the condition of my heart, I reach a point in the exercise when I ask myself the question, “Why am I doing this; cannot I just stop?”

In the Apostle Paul’s Christian journey, which Paul described as a race in 2 Timothy 4:7 when he says that he has finished the race, I am sure sometime during that race he asked himself the question, “Why am I doing this, cannot I just stop?” Maybe he asked himself that question in one of those five times, he took thirty -nine stripes at the hands of the Jews. Or maybe it was at the three times, he was shipwrecked and spent a night and day in the deep, or the time that he was stoned and left for dead as described in the Book of Acts.

I know in my own spiritual race as a Christian and a pastor, I have asked myself that question, “Why am I doing this; cannot I just stop?” It is not easy putting up with all the personalities in a church and keep the peace as a pastor. Every time I finish writing a Sunday sermon or a Monday Night Live Bible study, I got to preach it or teach it, and then I got to start all over and begin new ones. That sermon and Bible writing train seems to never end. And I might find myself asking the question, “Why am I doing this, cannot I just stop?”

My answer with my exercise is no I cannot stop; my heart needs it. For the Apostle Paul, the answer was that he could not stop because God never told him to stop. And why I cannot stop as a preacher and become a pew sitter, I know God told me to become a pastor and He has never told me to stop.

And the thing that keeps the Apostle Paul going, and the thing that keeps me going, and if you are continuing in the faith the thing that keeps you going is something called steadfastness.

Steadfastness means to endure, withstand, or to bear up under something. Well, Peter in our last message about being prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, tells us to remain steadfast- keep doing what you are doing until He comes.

Let us look at the Scripture.

Scripture

2 Peter 3:17–18 NKJV

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Point #1

Uncertainty brings instability in your life but knowing brings steadfastness.

Let us look at what Peter says in the first part of vs. 17- You, therefore beloved, since you know this beforehand...

Peter is saying what you know about the Second Coming of Christ and the certainty of His coming is reason that we should remain steadfast.

We all know people who lives can be classified as unstable. They bounce from one thing to another, and it is because this world and its standards are constantly changing. Nothing remains the same in this world. It is unstable. Today’s fashion of holes in your jeans in a few years will be out and something new will replace it. How can you remain steadfast when you are trying to hit a moving target?

Let us suppose you want to get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. You start the nursing program, and you completed two years and have two years more to go. The administration at the College decided at the end of your second year to change the Nursing Program to a six-year program. It throws you from keeping the course and finishing the final two years into a time of uncertainty. Do I have enough funds to complete the two extra years? Are my parents going to be able to continue to help with room and board? Is the person I am seeing and want to marry willing to wait two extra years to get married so that I can focus on my studies?

The wonderful thing about the Bible is that it tells me about God who is unchanging, and His Word is unchanging. Now that brings stability and steadfastness to your life. Malachi 3:6 says: For I am the Lord, I do not change… And my favorite Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Let me ask you a question: Is there anyone here that does not believe that Jesus Christ is coming again after His Word tells us He is coming again? The answer is nobody. And so, that is something that you can build stability upon. It is not changing.