Listen to the Apostle Paul: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

“Down, but not out!”

And Paul, years later finished his Christin life “with joy” and “with stamina,” having not quit! I’ll show you this in a minute, Bible proof.

“Ups” and “downs,” lots of them at times … but no sustained “stopping” at all!

Solomon well captured this concept … “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16

The Hebrew verb “falleth” used here means to completely hit the ground, flat on one’s face! The milder verb “shall fall” means merely “to totter,” or “to stumble!”

The godly man falls hard and gets up again!

The wicked man stumbles and then never regains balance, hitting the ground hard. And stays there, badly incapacitated!

The lost world calls this “staying power” resilience, the Bible calls it “perseverance, endurance,” or even (in the New Testament) “patience.”

And where does one get such faithfulness, determination, steadfastness?

Paul can answer that for us, too: “Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6, where the One having begun that good work is None Other than Almighty God! Our Heavenly Father!

Wow!

Yes, Paul was determined to say it, at life’s end … “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

And he did say it, truthfully.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Anyone reading here today having recently fallen? And you’re a child of God? Then GET UP! Maybe even GET UP AGAIN!

And get (back) busy, serving the Lord!

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