PRESS ON!

“I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME.” Philippians 3:12

Many of my “encouragers” have passed on to their reward and some days I wonder if I can press on without them. Evil men prevail and fraudulent men thrive, while so many sincere disciples hunger and thirst for righteousness in an unrighteous world.

Men pin their hopes on false Gods in politician clothes; their promises are but a vapor, which has vanished before it escapes their lips.

The confidant I miss the most and especially today left this ugly world after 97 years, but far too soon. About a month before she died she left me with two charges; she said, “I may go on, but don’t you quit! Don’t you dare quit; God has brought you too far for you to quit now!” Like you say, "there are too many preachers and not enough pastors; you’re a pastor and people need to be loved. You have good little people who can do plenty for God if you’ll just turn ‘em loose.”

Her second concern struck me as the words of Christ must of struck ol Peter so many times; “We need to pray for the preacher; you know who I mean, we need to pray that he gets saved, while he has time!” “Don’t you think he’s saved,” I asked, “You can’t love God and mistreat people and be right with God; he needs saved before it’s too late.” This dear old saint wouldn’t slander anyone, but she never mixed words either. Together we agreed that we would continue to pray for the preacher’s salvation as long as she was alive and I would continue, once she was gone.

What wonderful, joyous times we had together, even at the end when she was almost too weak to speak, she would pray until her whisper became almost a shout. “Oh God” she would weep, “Have mercy, have mercy on us little people with our little faith!” Many times she would interrupt herself and say, “Oh how I wish I could come to church and walk the aisle and shout! My how I miss church!”

Of course she didn’t miss church at all, we had church whenever we met, but she missed the fellowship of other believers many of whom she felt forgotten by.


On days like today; I press on knowing that there is a cloud of witnesses who are cheering from the hidden side of Glory, they continue to say, “Don’t you dare quit – there are people, even pastors who need saved!” AMEN!