Stay The Course

Philippians 3:14

I am committed to stay the course.  Like a ship continuing in the same direction, even in bad conditions, I am committed to staying on course.  And like that ship that moves forward through the storm, I press on with no guarantee of sunny skies and smooth sailing. 

Paul said he would continue to press toward the mark…   Reminds me of a story I read years ago of an Olympic runner’s training for the big event.  He told of the many mornings he got up early to run when there was no crowd to cheer him on, no applause to motivate him, and no cameras to take his picture at the finish line.  It was just him…alone.  Still he got up every morning and did what he had to do.  He stayed the course when it would have been easy to give up.

Paul didn’t give up either.  He was hindered.  He was hated.  He was humiliated.  But he wasn’t stopped.  He stayed the course.  He would never forget the Damascus Road...he was driven by the memory of it and transformed by the power of it.  He was called, compelled, even constrained to preach – to turn the world upside down for God’s glory.  He stayed the course.  He finished well.

I am in my 35^th year of ministry.  The call of God on my life is more real than when I first began.  I realize, however, my greatest call is not just to preach the Gospel…but to please the One who called me.  That is the high call to which Paul was pressing toward. 

I am staying the course.  I will continue to preach the Bible as the absolute authority for every issue we face.  I will continue to preach Jesus Christ as the only Savior for all the world.  I will continue to preach salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. 

I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. The Message 3:14