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There's No Need to Fail
Success is measured in countless ways. Some people are of the notion that success can be measured in terms of money. Others are of the opinion that you are successful if you have attained great intellectual notice. Still others measure success by how many people answer to their position of power or control . Actually, each of these ideas point to some sort of success, but not one of them is the kind of success that really matters in the ultimate reality.
The only really successful life is the life lived for God.
It would be good if we could grasp the idea that life here is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Life here is a probationary period–one in which we are granted the time and opportunity to prepare ourselves for a greater life, one with Divine association. Far too many folks want success here and now and give only passing thought to preparing for the hereafter. True success can only be measured by what we are when we leave this life, not how much we got together while we were here, or how powerful we became, or how reputed we were. Someone has rightly observed that people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan. ‘Tis so!
Actually, there’s no need to fail. Anyone who wants to succeed can do so. We are given the right as well as the means to a successful life. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name” (John 1:12). “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We are assured that “God is faithful” to deliver us from temptation and sin (I Corinthians 10:13). There is ample assurance that we can have a successful life–here and hereafter. And what a success it is!
We have only ourselves to blame if we don’t succeed. Romans 6:16 asks, “Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves as servants to obey, his servants ye are whom ye obey, whether of obedience to righteousness or disobedience unto death?” It’s a choice, you see, albeit, a vital one. But lots of people won’t succeed. For whatever reason, they will decide that planning for eternal life is of less importance than milking this life for all the thrills and passions it has to offer. Either that or they put off preparing for the other world so long they forget where they’re going (Hebrews 9:27).
Some people will fail because they have no consciousness of their real need. This ignorance is self-imposed (cp. Romans 1:21-f), one which comes about as a result of a very cleverly disguised plan by the Devil that tells us there is no reason for worry or concern. For instance, most denominations promote the notion that “it doesn’t make any difference what you believe, just as long as you’re honest and sincere.” That means it takes hardly anything to be spiritually successful. Another example is that “once you’re saved, you can’t be lost.” That clever ploy sees salvation as a one-stroke process, one that doesn’t require anything once you’ve been saved. But the fact is that these, and several similar ideas which have been beautifully packaged and effectively presented, in no way alter the indisputable fact that to succeed in life, one has to use God’s method, not man’s. It’s the only way (John 14:6).
A preoccupation with things of lesser value will cause scores of people to be lost. If we’re not careful we tend to give a first rate dedication to a second rate cause. It’s a “this world” view as opposed to an “another world” view. People are protecting, funding, participating in causes which have only relative value while the cause of Jesus Christ goes begging. Not only that, but lots of folks are not participating in anything at all. Did not Jesus say “he who is not with me is against me?” (Matthew 12:30).
Still some fail from a lack of dedication. They can’t seem to stay on course. There is not a more pitiful sight than to see those by the wayside who, once having begun the race, have not had the determination to continue and are lost along the way. If all the people who are “out of duty” were to be brought back, there wouldn’t be enough room to seat the crowds in most congregations. How sad that some have never made up their minds to succeed. They don’t intend to grow, they have no inclination to try and insulate their spiritual lives from the continued attacks from evil forces. They have no desire to protect themselves from the entanglements of life–those vine-like moral wraps that hold them like a tightened garment. They have little or no association with those who are faithful; they may even feel guilty just being around them.
You have to decide to have spiritual success; you can’t just wait around for some sort of happening to make your salvation possible. Doesn’t the Bible say something about “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”? (Philippians 2:12). Nobody’s going to Heaven by accident, I’ll tell you that. You have to work at it.
Most true success comes by way of dedication. Nobody ever said that getting to Heaven would be easy. In fact, the Scriptures teach that “all who live godly I Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12), and Jesus said (Matthew 5:10), “blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake...” So you have to be willing to take your lumps if you expect to follow the Master. But if you sit down and count the cost, you’ll quickly see that it’s worth it. Talk about success. How about no more sickness. How about on separation, no dying–ever again? How about no more tears and heartache, no more sad days. A life lived for Christ. Now that’s a success story!
