It Takes Commitment!
It Takes Commitment!
By Don Twobears
There are very few things in this life, that require more diligence, than “Commitment.” We practice so many ways, such as a “New Years Resolution”, or we join a group such as “Weight Watchers.” And we do these things with all the best of intentions…at least in the beginning. Have you ever noticed, how much these things actually cost, for some, maybe $10.00, or could they be even more now days?
Trust me, I am not looking to cast doubt on anyone, but very few of us ever see these things to the end, or at least to the end that we originally wanted…am I correct?! Don’t get me wrong, those endeavors are truly worth-while endeavors, the problem is maintaining that “Commitment.”
Sometimes, we fail, because the Commitment is too great. You know you need to lose that extra weight, that 20-25 pounds. You get up early and you don your new work-out outfit ($65.00) and those new running shoes ($140.00). You go outside and you begin to stretch and then you get ½ a mile and your dripping with sweat! Suddenly, your bed seems like the Oasis in a desert of heat and you can’t quite catch your breath…am I again correct?! You eventually walk the other ½ mile than actually running or jogging. Half a mile out and half a mile back.
You begin to tell yourself, that it will get easier, that… you’re experiencing difficulty because you’re out of shape. Excuses…do ya think?! And yet to a degree, you are correct. On the other hand, you sure do look good…right?! As if THAT should be enough! And you keep this up, until your muscles begin to ache, then you begin to think, that maybe you should not have been so aggressive in the beginning. Now you chastise yourself, saying in your head, it’s only a mile, don’t be such a wimp! Now you are bickering with yourself, over and over again! That is until you wake up the next morning, legs are sore, small of your back is in naughts and then you say, Just 10 more minutes. Next thing you know, that 10 minutes turns into 30 minutes and when you do wake up and get up, you keep thinking about Bagel with creme cheese!
“Ahhh…come on! It’s just one bagel, what’s that going to hurt?!” Next day, it’s 2 bagels! But they sure are great with your morning coffee! “I know, I’ll do 50 jumping jacks and 20 push-ups instead!” Of course, your exercise outfit is in the washing machine! What a drag…right?! It never seems to workout for ya?! Right?! Boohoo me, until you see that last bagel and hear it calling to you. You smear on the creme cheese this time…cause it’s the last bagel! “You can not enjoy a good bagel with crème cheese, without your coffee” Then again, your coffee requires lots of sugar and Half & Half…right?! Now we also have more room for more excuses…but we don’t want to talk about THAT! You finally give up!
You tell yourself many other things, like…I’ll cut back on the food intake, eat more salads, fewer bagels and such. And yet, you know once you get to the grocery store, those bagels are going to be screaming for you! “Come on, you know breakfast is the most important meal of the day!” Now your basket has 2 bags of bagels, 16 bagels in all…plus that crème cheese in a larger tub. It’s more economical!
That 20-25 pounds is still there and you have destroyed your commitment! Why does commitment require so much work?! Why does it always have to be so difficult?! “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride! IF the word IF were not there, I’d be a millionaire! (old German saying) Why is “Commitment” so difficult to achieve?! If I had a million dollars, I could have a Workout room or If I had a million dollars I could hire a personal trainer to help keep me motivated. IF…IF…IF! If I were a Pastor, I would Pray more…do you begin to see my point here?!
I would be willing to bet, few ever read the Story of the “Rich man and Lazarus” Luke 16:19-31. Few understand that “True Commitment” comes from the Lord, we are not able to “Commit” on our own. You may be able to know of one person, that is able to “Commit” to something and achieve it, yet even they fail in some areas of their Commitment. Without the Lord, it will never be 100%!
You know Commitment is important, that it requires discipline and hard work, you see a goal and you decide you will NOT quit until you reach that goal…PERIOD! No back-sliding, No cutting corners and No making it easy on yourself…this has become a MUST! Problem is, you still fail in some areas.
Has it ever occurred to you, that NOTHING in this life is 100%?! Some people will work and work and never see enough money! Moths will eat your clothing, or that expensive car still breaks down, your house continues to need work of some sort. Time stops for no man! There is never any rest for the weary.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Why is it so difficult for us to do exactly as the Lord has asked us to do, like the passage of Scripture above?! Why is it, we think we can do it all on our own?! By our own strength?! Do we not realize, we are the Fallen Species here?! And most of all, this life here on earth…is NOT how the Lord designed it for us. Our Home is not here on earth, it is definitely in Heaven! And so, if that is the case, the true case, why do we continue to Commit to our own devices?! Does this make any sense to you?!
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, “I” am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.”
It is in Black and white for all to read! IF…it requires the Lord, then do not trust it to yourself! YOU will fail and miserably so! IF you belong to the Lord God, by your own choice, let the Lord Work it out Through you!
The Lord will give you the strength and the stamina, that you will need and your Love for HIM, will get you to the end result. Please understand this…You get the next Breath of air or the next Heart Beat, because of HIM! Everything in this world, this life, hangs on HIM, HE even knows your thoughts! We know that the Lord is able to see the Past, the Present and the Future! WHY?? HE IS GOD!! That being a solid Fact, what makes you think…you don’t need HIM?!
John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
“For without ME ye can do nothing!” Does that make any real sense to you?! This is the exact Truth of the Word of God…to you and to me!
IF you don’t get that next breath or that next Heart Beat…you NO longer exist… you are dead! There is no more Life…for you! It is because of HIS sacrifice on the Cross…that we have Salvation! HE died in our place…a death that was meant for you and I! IF we choose to accept that Work of Salvation that HE bought with HIS own Blood, covering our Sin…then we do indeed have a Life! A Life unto Eternity!
That means you are walking that small path, to that small gate, that leads to Eternal Life. Anything other than that, you are walking that Broad highway to Destruction in Hell!
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Read that passage again and again, until you fully understand, exactly what it is saying! Till you clearly understand, that YOU are at the center of this passage! Which path do you choose, the highway to destruction or the small path that leads to the small gate and heaven?! You are the ONLY ONE that can make that choice…and you make that choice for just YOU!
You want Heaven…then you must come to Jesus Christ! Anything else…you get Hell and the Lake of Fire! That my Friends is the name of the game…and it’s the ONLY game in town!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
All Passages of Scripture come from the King James version of the Bible.
All Emphasis is mine.