Keeping our Confidence in the Power of God

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;  -Colossians 1:23 (KJV)

 My son keeps a couple of fish in a fishbowl in his room, and of course the bowl has to be cleaned from time to time.  A week or two ago he set about to clean the fishbowl and while doing so he put the fish in a glass that I have drank out of many times.  When he was done he washed out the glass, he put it in the dishwasher, and I imagine that if it was tested for bacteria it would be as clean as any glass in the cupboard.  But you know something?  I can’t drink out of that glass anymore.  The reason is I no longer believe it’s truly clean.  I now have doubts about it, therefore, I can no longer put it to use.  Should we begin to have doubts about God, the Word, God’s power to forgive and help us, then we will have trouble enjoying the full benefit of faith.  

Having doubts about the power of God can have a dramatic effect on our outlook on life.  Growing in faith is a safeguard from this occurring.  How can we come to the Scripture without faith and experience the power of God’s Word?  The answer is we cannot.  If we are going to grow in faith we must continue in faith.  Colossians 1:23 reminds us if we continue in the faith we will not be moved away from the hope of the gospel.  This phrase should get our attention.  What does it mean to move away from the hope of the gospel and how might this happen?  The hope of the gospel is the certainty of knowing that since we have trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior we have salvation.  If we have salvation we have the assurance of heaven.  There need not be any doubt about our salvation.  If we are truly in Christ the Lord will confirm this to us, and if we are lost He will let us know about that also.  

Be careful not to move away from our hope of the gospel.  Should our faith begin to waver, the result is we can begin to step back from this hope.  Should this happen we may end up losing the joy of salvation.  Christ has called us to walk forward in peace, victory, and joy.  Stepping away from our divine hope in Christ and allowing doubt to creep in robs us of these benefits.  

Here is a challenge for us today: stay in the Word, pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17), wait on the Lord to accomplish His will, and believe the Lord without question.  The Lord did not promise these would be easy, but He promised to be with us and help us every step of the way.  Walk forward in faith and belief.  Christ has the victory - and victory is ours through Him.