✞ ✞ ✞ FAITHFUL ✞ ✞ ✞

. "Many a man will declare his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?" Proverbs 20: 6 . I saw a photo of the excavations of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city that was buried, almost frozen in time, under tons of volcanic ash. The eruption was so sudden, so violent, that many people were doing the basic day to day stuff of life when they were instantly smothered. There was no warning. Death was virtually instantaneous. . One lone Roman soldier stood vigil facing the volcano. He saw the eruption and the deadly ash cloud headed for the city and could have tried to run. He chose to stand. Roman soldiers DID NOT leave their posts unless relieved. They stood faithful to the task before them. They feared their commanding officers more than their enemies; more than death. This lone soldier stood his ground and was buried alive facing the volcano. His assignment was to guard the city. He stands silent vigil over that doomed city today. He was faithful to the task. . God calls us to be faithful witnesses to the world and each other of His goodness. Your testimony of Christ has little power if you are not loving your spouse, honoring your parents, raising godly children, walking out the life of Christ within you in this fallen world. Jesus promised that when we appear before Him, for those who walked close in obedience to him, will hear these words: "Well done, you good and FAITHFUL servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord." . We cannot enter in the Lord's joy in this life or the next unless we are faithful to His call on our lives. Joy is an issue of the heart. You have to be close, intimate with someone to hear their heartbeat. The One we desire calls himself "Faithful and True." . I saw on a sports broadcast once a long distance runner who won a grueling race. His trainer was waiting for him at the finish line. This victorious athlete ran past the trophy right into his coach's arms. The token reward could wait. I suspect he wanted to hear his coaches' praise. I want to finish my life like that - running right into my Saviors' waiting arms. His words, "Well done, you good and faithful servant" are what I am running to finally hear. His rewards can wait. I want his smile. . Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Rev. 2: 10. . Will you stand firm to the call of God? Do you fear the Lord more than the opinions of men? Will you be found faithful?

#inspiration #nicoliebenberg #scripture