To Whom Shall We Go?

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/KYwK1)

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, ‘Will you also go away?’  Then Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life’.”

John 6:67-68

Although it may grow feeble at times, it always knows the Source of its strength and the Secret of its peace.

Saving faith.

The anonymous author of the Epistle to the Hebrews defined it as “believing that God is and is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).  And, in light of the context of today’s Manna, we’d do well to realize this “diligently seeking (Grk. ‘ekzeteo’—‘to search out, investigate, crave, earnest enquiring, deeply desire, endeavor, etc.’) Him” is an incessant one.  And, it certainly will always seemingly be an uphill, always-against-the-tide one.

Yet, it’s such “struggling of soul” that both refines and defines our faith during our times of “fiery trials” (I Pet. 1:6-7).  Again, we must realize spiritual warfare is real and not for the fainthearted.  The evil one’s mission is to “steal, kill and destroy” (Jn. 10:10a) and he goes about “as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet. 1:8).

But, we need not fear him if we’re a Blood-washed, Blood-bought, adopted and pardoned child of the Heavenly Father and King of kings.  Hallelujah!!

Instead, by faith we lift high “the shield of faith by which we quench the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16; I Pet. 5:9).  And, by faith we, like Job, say “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15); or, like Paul, we declare “I am confident of this very thing:  That He Who has begun a good work in me will continue to perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ—i.e., the Day I see Him face-to-Face” (Phil. 1:6).  Hallelujah!!

Those who “went back and walked no more with Christ” that day (Jn. 6:66) were unbelieving followers of Christ, not true, devoted disciples of the Stranger from Galilee.  Even though His closest followers would also abandon Him in the Garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers arrested Him, they still came back to Him and ended up dying a martyr’s death (with the exception of John, who lived to a ripe, old age).

The temptation to “throw in the towel” or “wave the white flag of surrender” is always there, Pilgrim.  When your prayers seemingly are unanswered. . .or when things are falling apart even though you’re faithful in church attendance, the giving of tithes and offerings, visiting the sick, etc.  . . .the evil one’s always near, whispering “What’s the use?  There’s nothing to all of this ‘Jesus stuff.’  Come on.  Let’s have some fun.  I’ll show you a good time.”

And, sadly, many do—forgetting that their so doing “crucifies Christ afresh and puts Him to an open shame” (Heb . 6:4-6).

Oh, dear Pilgrim, the Lord Jesus never promised us a primrose path of ease; He did promise us trials and tribulations (Jn. 16:33a).  And, He also promised us His unfailing Presence and Promises (Jn. 16:33b; Heb. 6:17-20; 13:5b) and Grace sufficient for every trial (II Cor. 12:9-10).  May we recommit our lives anew to Him today by praying aloud, “Yes, Lord Jesus, I know You’re the One.  Help me to never stray from Your side.”  Amen and amen.

By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated June 12, 2010