We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 6:11,12
At the beginning of every sports season, everyone is hopeful. All the teams are tied with zero losses, but they’re also tied with no wins either. At that point, everyone’s hopeful. This is part of what makes sports the great thing that it is. No matter what happened last season, everyone gets a fresh start.
Now everyone knows that some teams have a much better chance of winning. After all, their payroll is so much bigger than the other teams. They have superstars that everybody follows on social media. They are the ones quoted by all the sports writers. They’re the ones with all the commercials on TV.
But to become a great athlete, to become the best at what you do, you have to put in the time. You have to practice. Practice some more. And then when everything else is done, practice again and again. There’s never a day or time that you’re not doing something directly tied to your becoming better and better.
This is the same thing that the writer is saying to the Hebrews. When it comes to growing in faith, nothing beats diligence. Faith isn’t just saying a prayer. Faith isn’t just walking forward at a service. Faith isn’t just checking off a box to say that you accepted Jesus.
Yes, it can include some of these things. For some, you might have done all these. And more. And while the things are good, they don’t really show faith individually. If it’s something that we just do and nothing changes, then it was a passing interest. It was a hobby.
Real faith is not just different from this. It’s wildly different. It’s the other side of the universe different. Faith has a start but it’s more like a road. A path. Faith changes the direction of a life and where people walk. We will want to walk in the light as God is in the light[1].
Once real faith begins, there is this desire to stay on the path. To see it through. To walk with God through the good times and the bad. To not abandon faith when life smacks you upside the head with pain and trouble.
Faith has a “show this same diligence to the very end” quality. Yes, there is an initial commitment to God. Yes, there was a confession of sins and receiving Jesus’ forgiveness. But if that’s all that happens, I’ve got to ask the question; was it real faith?
Now there certainly will be times when we’re on a spiritual high. When everything’s going great. We have good health. Our finances are at least ok if not overflowing. Relationships with family and friends are smooth. Our car starts every time. We have a strong cell phone and Wi-Fi signal.
Then there will be times when life is just flat. Nothing exciting. Nothing new. Just the same old routine. Day in, day out, just a ho-hum existence. No one likes your social media posts. No one responds to your emails. Life just sort of slowly drifts on.
And then there’s those days where nothing goes right. The doctor says that you’re only getting worse. The balance in your bank account is gone. Your credit card is denied at the store. Your car won’t start and no one can give you a lift.
Fully realized faith doesn’t stay focused on the ups and downs of life. Fully realized faith doesn’t just stare at the rear-view mirror of life. And it doesn’t just look over the edge of the hood either. Oh no. Fully realized faith looks beyond what’s happening now and looks forward to eternity.
The writer to these Hebrews really wants nothing but the best for them. And that best can only be found with God through Jesus. This is the good news that they received. He’s continually wanting them to be continually showing diligence towards faith in Christ.
Let’s be clear about what’s not being said here. This is not a command to be doing good works to earn our Father – child relationship with God. This diligence isn’t trying to work off out sin debt with God through our actions.
What is being said is that when someone receives Christ’s payment for our sins, they will respond. Their lives will change. They will want to do the things that please the one who loves them. Died for them. They will respond to God’s love by being faithful to God and helping people.
Now I know what’s rolling around in your head right now. You’re wondering what about all those people who went forward to receive Christ in church. What about all those people who raised their hand at a rally. The really good news is that God wants them to come to him so much more than we could ever want. His deepest desire is for them to live with him forever. That’s why he sent Jesus to pay for their sins. Our job is to live a life of fully realized hope before God and a watching world. Speaking words that will help people along their faith walk.
Noodling Questions
Describe what you are willing to do to get better at some part of life.
Explain what happened the last time life seemed to go flat.
How has God’s deepest desire for you changed the way you think? Live? Act?
[1] 1 John 1:7
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