"Just Keep Going!" many people in the Body of Christ will advise to those who are struggling, who are in great need.
I received this empty advice many times in my life. What's the point of going anywhere if there is nowhere to go? What's the use of taking any steps in any direction when a sense of guilt, frustration, or misunderstanding still thwarts are life and our walk on this earth?
Many people are struggling and falling down in their lives not because they have not done enough, but because they do not believe the right and righteous truth of Jesus Christ and His glorious Gospel.
Like "You have to take the first step!", the misguided advice of "Just Keep Going" teaches people to look at themselves for the answers, to look at themselves for their needs.
Throughout Scripture, God invites us to look to Himself, to His Son -- Jesus, our Salvation -- and to His Holy Spirit for all help:
"13And Moses said unto
the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which
he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall
see them again no more for ever. 14The LORD shall fight
for you, and ye shall hold your peace." (Exodus 41: 13-14)
then
"22Look unto me, and be
ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is
none else." (Isaiah 45: 22)
and
"6Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."(John 14: 6)
Jesus Christ did not come to the earth to show us how to live a good life. He came to give us life:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come
that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
Jesus did not come to give us a standard of living. He came to take us from death in our trespasses to life everlasting:
"16For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
and
"20I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate
the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is
dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
and
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead,
and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who
is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
To many Christians are looking at our lives on this earth as if they have to be lived in our own strength.
One has to wonder if the children of God are reading their Bibles, or why they do not believe what they are reading:
"13I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
We are called to a Person, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
We are called to reckon ourselves dead to sin, to shame, to condemnation, and to receive His Life through God (Romans 6: 11).
If we struggle, if we feel lost, if we find ourselves frustrated in our efforts, then let us rejoice, because Jesus is ready to give us more of His grace and gift of righteousness in our very area of need. (Romans 5: 17)
The answer is Jesus Christ Himself, not "keep going", not "take the first step", and certainly not "keep trying".
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