We Don’t Shrink Back

I am Joni Eareckson Tada and yes, sometimes I feel like caving in.

It’s a hard world out there, and more than ever, there are constant demands on you and your time. There are constant harassments; small things, irritating things, but they keep nagging and whining for your attention. My friend Judy just sent me a gift – it’s a perishable gift of fresh frozen crab cakes. She sent them FedEx overnight so that they would arrive safely, but she accidentally put the wrong street number. And when the crab cakes did not arrive, I tracked the order and, sure enough, FedEx tried to locate the address, but it was non-existent. By the time we figured all this out, the crab cakes were spoiled. Judy spent a heap of money on a precious gift that never arrived because she didn’t double-check. Yes, that was an irritating thing, but it was also a very expensive mistake. When I told her this, she felt awful; she couldn’t even talk about it. She was so upset with herself.

But Judy will get over it. Why? Well, because she is a woman of Hebrews 10:39: “We do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” So you gotta wonder, just who are “those”? The ones who believe and are saved? Well, the writer of Hebrews answers that question at the beginning of the next chapter. He lists a great honor roll of those who persevered: Moses, Enoch, Noah, Sarah, Abraham, Rahab, David and Samuel, just to mention a few. Judy will face many daunting challenges – as will we all – but our Christian faith will not allow us to cave in easily to disappointment. No matter how big those challenges are. Our faith in Christ is much stronger than that. And you know what?

You are one of “those” who must not shrink back and become destroyed. Friend, you cannot, you will not, throw in the towel and allow your faith to shrivel. You will stand up to disappointment and you will face your fears. Why? Because you’re linked with Moses and Enoch. You’re connected with Sarah and Rahab. Yes, even though these men and women had problems, they demonstrated faith. I mean, look at it – Moses, although he erupted in anger, repented; Noah had a problem with alcohol, yet he moved forward; Sarah mocked God yet survived and was saved; Rahab with her loose morals; Gideon with his serious doubts; David with uncontrolled passions; and Samuel had the aches and pains of old age. But all of these – even with disappointments, setbacks big and small – all of them ultimately did not collapse. They persevered, expressed their faults and their failures to God, and then believed and were saved. They were counted as righteous because they lived by faith. And, friend, so must you. So will you! Because you are not only united with those people in Hebrews 11; you are united with Christ.

And the next chapter, Hebrews 12, begins with your next step out of disappointment. ’Cause “…since you’re surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” I know that sounds hard, but the book of Hebrews commands us to “fix [your] eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of [your] faith…consider him who endured opposition…so that you do not grow weary or lose heart.” Oh, friend, do not give up. Don’t shrink back. And do not succumb to discouragement. Others have survived; others hung in there and so can you. That’s your good word today from Hebrews and from joniradio.org.

© Joni and Friends