“But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 25:13 (NIV)
‘Standing firm’, are the words of Jesus. It’s His expression for staying steadfast in the faith, to spiritually withstand the many challenges of life.
Standing firm is physically and literally challenging when standing on a floor full of oil and broken glass. That’s what happened to me recently, when I reached into a kitchen cabinet for a glass bottle of avocado oil, which slipped out of my hand, hit the counter and then crashed onto my kitchen floor.
I found myself standing barefoot in a pool of avocado oil and shattered pieces of glass. I first prayed that I would not get injured, as my feet were sliding on the oil. It took all my strength to stand firm, without getting cut, while cleaning up oil and broken glass.
After an hour it was cleaned up, but two days later I still found pieces of glass on the counter and in the far corners of the floor. It was an unforgettable mess.
One word that describes the whole experience is ‘vulnerability.’ I felt very vulnerable with the possibility of slipping, falling or getting cut, but I’m thankful I didn’t get injured. After such a crazy experience, I wondered what I was supposed to learn from it, besides starting each day by asking for God’s protection.
Somehow, the scripture above fit the theme, where Jesus told us to stand firm in the 25th chapter of Matthew’s gospel, which is all about standing firm to ‘the end’, referring to being prepared for the day of judgement. Jesus talked about the ten virgins carrying lamps, while only five were prepared by having oil in them.
Then He told the story of servants who each invested their talents while their master was away. Jesus spoke of His own return one day, with His angels, to sit on a throne and judge the living and the dead. He said so much on the topic that Matthew devoted an entire chapter of his gospel to preparing and standing firm for that day.
To summarize the message of Jesus, He reminds us to keep oil in our lamps, use the talents that He gave us, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit those who are sick or in prison. His message is a basic one, to use our time, talents and treasures in ways that show His love, for our eternal good and for others.
After Jesus ascended to heaven, the early church was persecuted by the Roman Empire for the first 250 years. When they finally were free to openly worship, new problems arose due to heresies and false teachings, casting doubts on doctrines like the deity and incarnation of Christ. The church had to clarify the truth from lies, and stand firm in teaching the Christian faith.
Jesus never promised that the Christian life would be an easy, carefree lifestyle. He said that in the world there is always trouble, but He has overcome the world. Doubt, fears and worry often makes us feel vulnerable, like we are standing in a pool of oil and broken glass. I feel more vulnerable these days, since my health is not as good as it once was, living alone, and have adult sons who both need help in some way, but I trust what Jesus said about standing firm. If we ask and pray, God will hear and help us.
After finding tiny pieces of broken glass in my kitchen for some days afterward, it reminds me that we need to check the corners of our heart and our attitude from time to time, to see what needs to be cleaned out.
God sees all that is within us and He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from any sin. He also comforts us in our fear and anxiety. As we place our full trust and confidence in Jesus, we will stand firm and live in His peace.
Lord, help us in any ways that we feel vulnerable today and strengthen us to stand firm in your truth. Amen
