Hebrews 12:1 …”run with perseverance the race marked out for us”
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The Lord has marked out a course for each of us. This passage speaks of the need for “perseverance” indicating that sometimes the course may be grueling. It will not always be an easy road but I can be sure that it is far better to stay on God’s path, no matter how difficult, than to leave His path and begin to blaze my own trail through the briers and brambles.
Proverbs 13:15
The way of the transgressor (the one who veers off the course and begins to blaze his own trail and create his own path) is hard.”
As tough as my course may get, I can be assured that it is still a more joy filled path than any of my own making.
During the grueling times of the race I must do what Jesus did when faced with a torturous part of His race. He did not focus on the pain (the cross) but looked beyond it to the joy on the other side.
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
By keeping my eyes fixed on eternity – the joy and reward awaiting me for a race well run – I can find the hope, strength, courage and endurance to continue running.
The road may get rough but stay on the path, stay the course and look beyond “the wall” to the joy awaiting you at the finish line.
______________________ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Somebody told me they were upset because a Christian friend accused her of being pro-abortion because she said was pro-choice. “That angers me”, she complained, “because I hate abortions but I think a person should have a choice in this matter. How come Christians think pro-choice is the same as pro-abortion?”
I can understand her frustration at being labeled as being in favor of something that she despises. Most people would consider her stance rather neutral. She is not in favor of abortion but neither does she think people should be restricted from having them if that is their choice. She is tolerant. She is correct – at least politically.
But here could be why her friend accused her of being pro-abortion simply because she was pro-choice. Think this through with me.
First of all, I know of no one that would say they are pro-abortion. No one who understands even the most basic aspects of abortion, its trauma to the woman and the death of the child, could say they are pro, or in favor of, abortion. The reason, however, some people equate pro-choice with pro-abortion is because if you look at the practical outcome of a pro-choice stance it produces the same thing a pro-abortion stand would produce. For example, a pro-choice senator asked to vote on a measure limiting abortion would vote the same way as a pro-abortion senator, if such a person existed.
Let me try to illustrate by looking at a parallel example, another hotly debated topic – gun control. Let’s assume you hate guns but you also believe people who want to own them should be allowed to freely own guns. You have a pro-choice stance. If you were forced to vote or take a stand on the issue, even though you hate guns you would have to side with the pro-gun people to oppose restrictions on gun owners. Therefore, though you would never say you are “pro-gun”, the ultimate outcome of your position is the same as the pro-gun people. In this case, pro-choice is virtually the same as pro-gun, it produces the same outcome, no limitations on the ownership or use of guns.
Apply this same template to the abortion debate. You hate abortions (guns) but you feel people should be able to freely have an abortion (a gun) if that is their choice. Therefore, the practical outcome of your stance is as if you were pro-abortion (pro-gun). As much as you hate abortion (guns) a pro-choice stance puts you squarely on the side of those who profit from the death caused by abortion (guns). If you hate guns, like we assume you do for this example, it would likely make you angry to be called pro-gun but your “neutral” stance actually advances the distribution and uncontrolled ownership of guns – the pro-gun position.
However, there is an even stronger reason that some would say being pro-choice is equivalent with being pro-abortion. If I am pro-choice, I am saying I am in favor of a person having the right to make whatever choice they desire – either option – keeping the child or aborting the child as long as it is that woman’s choice. I am pro her keeping the baby if that is her choice. But, I am also pro aborting the child if that is her choice. If I am “pro”, or in favor of, only one choice then there really is no choice. To truly be pro-choice I must be in favor of either option – keeping or aborting the child. Therefore, to be pro-choice says I am pro, in favor of, abortion in the case where that is the woman’s preferred choice. In that case I am pro-abortion. I cannot say I am pro-choice if I do not support one of the two choices available. So, quite literally, while I might hate abortions, if I am pro-choice I am also pro-abortion at least on occasions where the woman chooses to end the child’s life. If abortion is her choice then abortion is my choice for her – or I am not truly pro-choice.
While it may be frustrating to have people align you with something you hate so much, in reality, your stance is one that fosters abortions and, at least in some cases, is pro, or in favor of, abortions. If you are not in favor of abortions even if that is the woman’s choice then you are not pro-choice. If you are in favor of abortions when it is the woman’s choice then you must admit that, at least sometimes, you are in favor of abortions, or pro-abortion. There is no neutral stance on this issue. Think about it. I would love to hear your comments and if there are any fallacies in the reasoning or something I am missing, please point it out.
__________________ Proverbs 6:16-17
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, …
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
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Run from…, run to… flee (run from) temptation but pursue, run after, righteousness, … etc. We are running a race but notice we are not meant to run this race alone. We are to be running with others – “along with” other believers. The NLT translates it like this, “Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” We are to choose our associations carefully (those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart), but we are to associate with others in our Christian walk.
Our pursuit of the Lord is not a “Lone Ranger”, “Me and Jesus Got Our Own Thing Going” affair. A believer who chooses to isolate himself from the Body of Christ will not grow to be a balanced, healthy believer any more than any human being who is cut off from outside contact grows to be balanced and well adjusted. We need each other. God designed it that way. It is not good that man be alone.
Following Jesus is more than just a matter of believing it is a matter of belonging – belonging to His Bride, His Body, His Church. In those “iron sharpens iron” relationships God applies heat and friction to our life, like we do to a knife when sharpening it, to sharpen us, rub off rough spots and smooth offensive aspects of our nature and character.
A knife that pulls away from the whetstone every time there is friction, or it gets hot or uncomfortable, will remain with a dull edge. Something will always be missing, incomplete. A believer that pulls away from relationship every time they are disappointed or their needs are not met or they are challenged, will remain dull, weak in their spiritual life. Something will always be missing, incomplete.
_______________ Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
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Hebrews 12:1
She is tolerant. She is correct – at least politically.