I hope to preach the Gospel, teach the Gospel, and train others to do the same. The goal is going to Heaven and bringing as many people with us as we can. No greater goal could be imagined. When God sent His Son into this world, he sent him with this grand purpose. When Jesus came into this world, this goal was His life’s work. When the Spirit came on Pentecost and as He inspired the New Testament, His goal was to teach the way to Heaven. When God makes a new creature in baptism, He does so to accomplish His purposes in the continued salvation of the lost world (Eph. 2:10).

This is a difficult work. We must, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:3). While Jesus was in his three years of ministry, he was discouraged at the disciples lack of faith, their lack of understanding, and their lack of commitment. Jesus wept over those who would not repent. Jesus knows it is a difficult work, but He did not give up. “For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of God” (Heb. 12:2). We must follow His footsteps. Deny self. Take up your cross (ministry) daily. Follow Him. Be welcomed home–John 14:1-4. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” (Ps. 126:5). Psalm 31:24 says, “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”

The persistent  apostle Paul wrote: “let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9). Commenting on this verse, Martin Luther cited Hemeans who said: “It is easy enough to do good once or twice, but to keep on doing good without getting disgusted with the ingratitude of those whom we have benefited, that is not so easy. Therefore the Apostle does not only admonish us to do good, but to do good untiringly. For our encouragement he adds the promise: “For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” “Wait for the harvest and then you will reap the reward of your sowing to the Spirit. Think of that when you do good and the ingratitude of men will not stop you from doing good.”

We can’t imagine what God has waiting for us. Remember that “God blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first” (Job. 42:12). This may very well be the case for our life on earth. It is certainly the case for our reward in Heaven. “Though the way we journey may be often drear, we shall see the King some day.” Keep going. The future is bright in Christ–1 Cor. 15:58.

“Forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

Pressing on,

D. L. DeBord