Are You Fearful or are you Faithful?
Main Scripture: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”-John 16:33 ESV
In recent days tribulation has been all around us. I don’t know about you and your circumstances today but recently life has been hard and a challenge for me personally. Everything in my life as I previously knew has turned to online. Things are now digital. If there were ever a time to be fearful in America it would be now. But, we’ve been here before as a nation. Some of our parents remember 9/11 and the fear that it brought our nation. WWI and WWII also brought about great fear. Times of fearfulness give us the opportunity to have faith more than ever before.
Many of you who have lived in Williamston, South Carolina for any length of time know about Big Creek Baptist Church. Big Creek was founded in 1789 and is the oldest church in Anderson county and one of the oldest in the entire state. During the civil war Big Creek was holding their regular Wednesday night prayer service and they had to lock up the doors and close the windows of the old brick church during that service. Why? Because fear along with caution had take over. That night during Wednesday night prayer service Richard Sherman and his army were coming through the area during “Sherman’s March” when much of the south was burned to pieces. Thankfully nothing was harmed to Big Creek that night.
I tell that story to simply say we as the church (body of believers) have had fearful times before and we’ve gotten through. During my 21 year lifespan this is the most fear that I have seen among God’s people. People are panicking. Instead of resting in our fear of the future why don’t we remain faithful to the one thing that is constant in our lives? Jesus Christ will never leave you nor forsake you! Yet we would rather be fearful than faithful! We would rather cling to this world than be faithful to the cross of Christ!
In John 16:33 we see the words of Jesus where he said this:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”-John 16:33
These words of Jesus Christ give us hope that we can faithful in a fallen world full of tribulations. Maybe tonight you are like Big Creek Baptist Church in 1865. You just feel like everything around you is burning and falling apart. Guess what? You still must remain faithful to God! God has never given up on you so why should we give up on him? Big Creek didn’t just close up forever that night, No! They stayed faithful to the cause of Christ and having preaching and proclaiming the Gospel for over 231 years. They have been faithful. Have you been faithful to Christ?
Before I close with a quote I want to share some ways that you and I can be faithful instead of fearful.
- Spend time with God daily. Through reading his word and personal devotion time, just like the one you are reading right now.
- Pray and ask God how he wants you to grow. When we pray to God we must be careful to not only bring out request but also a listening ear.
- Share what God is doing in our lives! How are we going to be faithful in sharing the Gospel with non-believers if we first don’t share with our friends who are believers in Christ! Share of the goodness of God in your life.
As we close today’s devotion I think this quote summarizes what being faithful to God boils down to.
“The question on judgement day will not be were you successful? It will be were you faithful?”-Pastor Al Meredith
Let’s be faithful Students, Parents, and brothers and sisters in Christ,
Love and Blessings,
Brady Henderson
Student Pastor
Transformed Student Ministry
Transformed Student Ministry 