"Footprints in the sands of time are never made by sitting down.”
Perseverance, endurance, and plain ole’ stubborn tenacity are
needed to hold on to our hope in the midst of difficulty. If our life’s
work will leave behind footprints in the sands of time, it will be
because we have striven to go in a direction that is different from the
well-traveled road taken by the world.

The Christian life is compared to many things in the word of God.
Surrounded by “so great a cloud of witness,” it is a race in which we
must “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily
entangles us” and run with our eyes fixed upon Jesus, “the author
and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:1-2). The Christian life is much like a
race. But it is not so much a sprint as it is a marathon. Speed is not
required so much as stamina. Therefore, we have a great need for
endurance.

Our ability to remain in the struggle—to keep on keeping on—is
measured by the strength we receive from the Lord, not by the
strength we receive from men. God is the one who gives
perseverance and encouragement (Rom. 15:5). While it is true that
God may use others as sources of encouragement to help us
develop greater endurance, God is the only one who can provide the
spiritual sustenance we need to finish the race.

One way God provides endurance is through suffering. Most of us
would prefer another method. But there are no shortcuts to
endurance. Those who compete in marathons know the importance
of training. A person doesn’t just decide to run the grueling 26-mile
course on the spur of the moment. Training is needed to gradually
build up endurance to complete the course.
The trials and tribulations which come our way in this life have a way
of helping us develop spiritual endurance. By turning to God for
strength and learning from what we suffer, we can develop a
stronger and deeper character, one that will see us through to the
end of life’s journey.

As we run the race, our perseverance is inspired by hope (1 Thess.
1:3). The hope of heaven is a grand and glorious hope, one that will
motivate and inspire us to endure whatever hardships or difficulties
come our way. We fix our eyes on Jesus. He is our goal. To be with
Him is our destiny. In the meantime, we must hold to the course that
is set before us, never giving up but always keeping our trust in Him.
Glen Elliott

Depending on who you ask, health professionals suggest adults get
between seven to nine hours of sleep each night. When we sleep
well, we live better. Rest is one of the things we often take for
granted, but it is part of what makes us human and what God uses
to refuel us and reorient our minds to reality. As you read through
your Bible, take note of all it says about sleep, rest, and relaxation.
God’s comments on this subject are thought-provoking and
convicting. Our world emphasizes one extreme or another: work
yourself to death without rest or crown laziness as a virtue. Notice
what God teaches about rest and let it affect the way you go about
your work and your rest.

1. God Never Sleeps (Psalm 121:4). The God of the Bible is
described as one who does not slumber or sleep. He does not faint
or grow weary (Isaiah 40:28). Though He was satisfied with His work
of creation and rested from His creative activity, He was not
exhausted (Genesis 2:1-3). The only person in the Bible who does
not need rest is God. This means when we behave as if we don’t
need rest, we are trying to occupy a role reserved for the Divine.

2. Humans Need Rest (Mark 6:31). As busy as Jesus was during
His earthly ministry, He also believed in rest. Once He became
human, He needed all the things humans need to live, including
sleep. He took naps (Matthew 8:23–24). He encouraged His
disciples to pull away from the crowd to rest (Mark 6:31). When His
sleepy disciples struggled to stay awake in Gethsemane, He told
them to take their rest (Matthew 26:45). In the Old Testament, God
commanded a day of rest so people would learn to trust Him
(Exodus 20:7–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15). We need rest—it reminds
us that God is still in control and things won’t fall apart just because
we stop working. Rest shows our finite nature and dependence on a
God who never needs to recharge. To be human is to need rest; to
deny this ruins our ability to function as God intended.

3. Laziness Is Condemned (Proverbs 6:6–11). While the Bible
teaches rest, it also warns that resting when we should work brings
regret. Work is not a consequence of sin; there was work in the
garden of Eden before sin (Genesis 2:15). God wants us to work
with vigor and dignity as if working for Him—because we are
(Colossians 3:23). A faithful Christian is hard-working in the kingdom
and on the job (1 Corinthians 15:58).

In the end, the Bible describes heaven as a rest to be anticipated
and enjoyed (Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 14:13). Our rest now,
alongside our work, prepares us for the eternal rest to come!
Hiram Kemp

If I had to pick one Bible verse that would best fit the needs of our
day it would be John 14:6. Many people have lost their way in life.
Some don’t know what truth is and some would say it is not
attainable. The value of life has been diminished, especially with
abortion being such a big issue. Jesus declares, “I am the way, the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Let’s examine the importance of these words and see why it is a
great verse for our day.
The Way. Jesus is the way into heaven (Acts 4:12). He is also the
way to a good life. He stated, “I have come that you may have life
and it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He may have been talking
about eternal life, but life here on earth is much better with Jesus.
Many people today have lost their way. They are looking for
happiness, success, and contentment in all the wrong places.
Pleasure only satisfies short term. Money may help some, but then
they want more money. Only Jesus can provide the way. Through
obedience to Him comes the life of abundance and contentment.
The Truth. We have a truth war going on today. Jesus stated, “If
you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall
know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31, 32
NKJV). Truth is knowable. We can all know it the same way and get
the same results. Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).
Many today may be asking that same question. Jesus is the truth
about any matter in life. He has the truth about our personal lives
and our spiritual lives. Contrary to many modern thinkers, truth is
attainable and is available to all.
The Life. Jesus is the way to eternal life. We must believe in Him
(John 8:24). Without Him we could not get to heaven. Jesus said,
“The Son gives life to whom He will” (John 5:21). Life is important.
Life matters. Jesus said life matters. In Matthew 6:26, Jesus made a
comparison. He stated, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither
sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds
them Are you not of more value than they?” The crowning point of
God’s creation was man. Man’s life matters. His physical life begins
in the womb. John the Baptist leaped while he was still in the womb
(Luke 2:44). Spiritual life is also very important. Jesus came and
offered life after death (John 11; 25, 26). Jesus is the way to truth
and the way to life. We need to obey Jesus and live for Him and we
will have an abundant life.
Bill Brandstatter