DILIGENCE. Hebrews 6:11-12 Christians are always at risk of losing their complete trust in the Lord and their hope in Christ. It is vital to our strength and testimony that we stay committed to being faithful to our Lord and remain steadfast until the end of this life. Faith is our commitment to obey our Lord, and patience is our dedication to maintaining faith despite the challenges we face on this journey.
Perseverance in faith demonstrates salvation. This is the opposite of spiritual laziness. When God’s love dwells in our hearts, and we know that He understands everything we experience, our confidence remains strong, and we are uplifted by Him, placing our hope in Him. The conclusion of our earthly journey will open the door to the blessings of the eternal kingdom, which is beyond our finite minds to imagine.
Our faith is firmly grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ, not in our experiences or any dealings with God we may have had. Our salvation is from the Lord, uncaused by anything we think or do. The word of God keeps our focus on our Lord so that He can present us as “holy and unreprovable” to God. It is not wrong to review and test our foundation from time to time, as long as it is done in the light of God’s word. If we sense we are becoming careless and lazy in the things of God, we need to review the things that accompany salvation. Spiritual laziness can happen to any believer, but if it is allowed to continue, we need to conduct a thorough examination.
Those who continue to live only on “milk,” even though it is the sincere milk of the word, can become “dull of hearing,” “sluggish” – slow to obey, and show no signs of growth. By taking action of faith to address our lives, we would do well to follow the example of older believers like Abraham. He was a man of faith who, despite his age, acted on God's promises and, through patience, saw them fulfilled. They were granted in God’s timing and way, which we most need to understand and apply for ourselves.
Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. Not only will they enjoy fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, but they will also have a positive influence on those beginning their walk of faith. They need examples of those who have discovered the abundant supply of grace that allows them to “minister” to those still learning on their faith journey. Experiencing God's activity in our lives demonstrates our confidence in the ongoing ministry of our Great High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of God.