To Have Success in 2021
Success, what is it? What does it take to find it? Can we accomplish it? Everyone wants to be successful, don't they? Winning the big game, being well known, or making a lot of money, can all be signs of success. If you could be successful at one thing in your life, what would it be? What would you give up to accomplish it? What would motivate you to chase that success? A New Year is finally here, let's all be successful! Here is the verse we will use to help us accomplish the most important type of success, Rev.3:8b, "You have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
Succeed means to turn out well, to attain a desired object or end. Jesus tells the church at Philadelphia and commends to them what really is the way and real measure of success in the Christian life. Success is to still be standing, when the battles of life are over or sooner if Jesus should not tarry until then. James M. Boice believes Jesus is saying, "Hold on, don't give up, don't let anyone take your crown. And remember I am coming soon! Can you remember that? Can you hang on? Jesus doesn't ask for heroics, He just wants those who are His to persevere." But do we have some helpful ways to find success in pleasing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Let's see what His word has to say!
Ecc.10:10 says, "If the axe is dull, and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success." Let's look to the all-wise Omniscient God for help. In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And, in verse 16, 'and' (that word is unfortunately not in all translations), the result will be that the Son will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever." Heb.13:5 will back that up. His word, His commandments can only be known by reading over them. The Bible has not been mandated by the authorities not to be read in these past days. And no one has restricted us from gathering at the Throne of Grace this past year either. This Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach us the truth. Being a Christian, we are sealed with the Spirit (Eph.1:13), meaning, this one is Mine, that one is Mine. Outside the gospel of John, the Greek word for Helper is only used in 1John 2:1, as applied to Christ for the Word Advocate.
In the O.T., the great verse that calls out success to be had in, is in Joshua 1:8. "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success." So speaking the Word, reading the Word, meditating on the Word, memorizing the Word, delighting in the Word, treasuring the Word, keeping the Word, rejoicing in the Word, observing the Word is the idea. His word and keeping it because we love Him, will cause us to be successful in His eyes. Psalm 73:25, "Whom do I have in heaven but You, and besides You I desire nothing on earth.”
Can we set out this year to be successful in His eyes? If we desire to keep the Word, we must know the Word by reading it, and not deny His name, the One who loves us and who are honored and precious in His sight! We can be successful this coming year and every year until that last day comes.
C.H. Surgeon says, "I wish my brothers and sisters that during this year you may live nearer to Christ then you have ever done before. Depend upon it, it is when we think much of Christ that we think little of ourselves, little of our troubles, and little of the doubts and fears that surround us. Begin from this day, and may God help you."
God bless your efforts to stay close to Him this year. Elder Randy Slak