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Thinking of Quitting?

by Bill Hall

No doubt, someone will read this article who is discouraged, weary of struggling, disappointed in his brethren, facing severe obstacles in his service to the Lord, and is in danger of quitting. But I would make this appeal: "Before you quit, look anew at the incentives the Lord holds before you; look again at heaven."

Heaven means victory—victory in the strife with Satan and his allies. The battle is sometimes hard; the foe is formidable. Our own strength seems so small. We become discouraged. But lift our eyes! On our side is the Lord, the One who has already won the battle (Genesis 3:15). With His aid we can be victorious. We can be "more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

Heaven means beauty—unsurpassed beauty—a street of gold, walls of jasper, a foundation of precious stones, gates of pearl, a crystal clear river flowing from the throne of God.

Heaven means home—Happiness is not found in our material surroundings, but in being with those we love. We experience homesickness, but our homesickness is not for a house or anything material, but for wife and children, for loved ones. Similarly, we speak of the beauty of heaven, and truly its beauty enhances our anticipation, but surely the greatest joy will be found in being with our Lord, the One "whom having not seen [we] love, " and with our God, with the Spirit, with the angels, and with the re-deemed of all ages. This will be our eternal homecoming.

Heaven means happiness—There will be nothing there to mar our happiness. There will be no more tears, no more sickness, no more heartache, no more death, "nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

Heaven means holiness—Never again will we hear the name of our Lord taken in vain. There will be no more adultery, filth, guilt, murder, crime. Truth will abound. There will be no more lying, deceit, flattery, hypocrisy. Women will no longer have to fear those who would abuse and desecrate them. Love will be pure and unfeigned. The Lord assures us, "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Revelation 21:27)

Heaven means eternity—This blessed state shall never end. "When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun" (Joseph Scriven).

You can quit if you so choose, for God will not force anyone to serve Him. But, remember, the day you quit is the day you forfeit all hope of eternal happiness and choose in its place eternal damnation. And eternity is a long time. 

Other Articles by Bill Hall
Two Men React to Teaching on Morals
Discouraged of Men
Permissive Parents