if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Colossians 1:23
Just in case you’re not sure, there’s no such thing as instant anything. Everything, and I mean everything, takes time. You can’t make anything instantly. Yes, there are shortcuts. Yes, there are hacks that can save you time. But you still have to put in the time.
Even something like instant coffee. It might seem instant to you. You put a spoonful of it in a cup and pour water over it. But do you know all the time, energy, and work that goes into making it instant? In case you’re interested, Click Here[1] to see how instant coffee is made. Or, Click Here[2] to read about how instant coffee is made. Instant coffee is anything but instant.
And when it comes to faith in Jesus, it’s not instant either. Yes, when you admit that you’re a sinner and ask God to make you clean before him through Jesus’ sacrifice, then you instantly become a child of God[3]. You’re made into a new person, a new creation[4].
But that instant change is for all eternity. It doesn’t immediately give you a new life here on earth. Your destiny for all time after you leave this life is set in stone[5]. But the way God wants to change you here takes lots of time.
Why else would Paul tell the Colossians to continue in their faith? Paul’s telling them to stay with it, not to easily or quickly give up. They need to stick with it. He knows that trouble and temptation are coming like a freight train, so they better be ready for it
And how do you do that continue thing? You do it by doing it today. And tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. We constantly need to be reminded by ourselves and others that God is God. He’s in control. He’s on our team. He’s on our side. And that he’ll never let us go.
I remember being on the front lawn of a family whose son had died. It might have been an accidental overdose, or it might have been suicide. We’ll never know. As I listened to this greatly distraught mother talk about her son and what they were going through. I knew enough to keep my big mouth shut and let her talk.
As she started to wind down telling me her story, she talked about her faith in Jesus. She talked about her needing God’s grace day by day. As she paused for a moment, I took her hand and said, “And sometimes, it’s hour by hour. Even minute by minute.” She hugged me and just melted into tears.
That very same woman was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her body is under attack not only by cancer, but the powerful chemo drugs that they are pumping into her. She’s sick and in pain each and every day. All day long she’s in agony.
Again, she’s in desperate need of that constant trusting in Jesus. Looking to him for strength for the day, and bright hope for tomorrow. Her painful circumstances have almost forced her to run to Jesus. Day by day. Hour by hour. Minute by minute. Like “Day by Day[6]” from Godspell.
Day by day, Day by day
Oh, Dear Lord, Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly, Day by day
And how can you continue in this grounded faith? It comes through making it established and firm in our hearts and our lives. We make it the bedrock of who we turn to when the bottom drops out. It takes depending on the God who loves us, the God who saves us. He must become the one we run to for stability.
A wall depends on the foundation all the time. Because the wall was built on the foundation, it leans on it all the time. The weight of the wall sits on the foundation. As a matter of fact, the weight and stress of the wall it transferred to the foundation. That’s how a wall can stand against the rain and strong winds of hurricanes.
The firm relationship between the wall and foundation was started on the day it was built, and it’s still going on today. The same is true with our being firm in Jesus. It started when we put our trust in and on Jesus, and it’s still going on today. The trusting permanently happens once and for all, but it’s lived out each and every day.
Paul’s asking the Colossians if they’re trusted Jesus, then they’ll consistently put their trust in him. Yes, there may be moments, but they will always return to the savior. If they leave and don’t come back, then they never trusted in the first place.
The same is true for you and me. If we trusted Jesus, we’ll keep coming back. We’ll always return to his open, loving arms to receive forgiveness. So, where are you today? Are you in the arms of Jesus, or are you needing to run back into his arms?
He’s always ready to run to you again. The only thing that can stop him is us. Are you staying away? It’s time to come home.
[3] John 1:12
[4] 2 Corinthians 5:17
[5] Luke 23:42