Acts 26:22
“Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:”
One of the greatest battles that the Christian will fight will be to continue. I have watched people who started right, but veered off into false doctrine. I have watched Christians who started right, then they quit when the times got tough. I have watched Christians who started right, but turned back or coasted when they got tired. I have also seen Christians who started and continued on until the day they died. That is the type of Christian I want to be.
Paul made the statement in the verse above, “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue…” Paul was determined to continue to serve God until the day He went to Heaven. In spite of health problems, he continued. In spite of battles, he continued. In spite of persecution, he continued. When he acquired a problem with his eyes, he continued. When Demetrius launched a personal attack against Paul for teaching against idolatry, he continued. When he faced the persecution from religious leaders who beat him, imprisoned him and wanted him executed, he continued.
Christianity is in great need of people who will continue in spite of. In spite of health issues, you need to continue. In spite of financial difficulties, you need to continue. In spite of attacks from Christian brethren, you need to continue. In spite of every trial that may come your way, you need to continue for the sake of Christ.
When we talk about Paul continuing, what was it that he continued? You find in the verse above that he continued to witness to others. He continued to do right when he was tempted to do wrong. He continued to stand for the faith when it was unpopular. When hard times come, people do not stop dying and going to Hell. When battles come your way, that doesn’t stop Hell from accepting the lost. No matter what you face, you must continue to witness to the lost.
Moreover, in spite of anything you face, you must continue to do right. Friend, it may not be easy to do right, but nobody ever said that doing right would be easy. Sometimes you just have to do the hard thing and do right. When the faith is unpopular, you must do right and stand for the faith. Continuing for the faith when the faith is unpopular is the only thing that will keep your children and grandchildren from doing wrong. You must have a determination to do right and witness to the lost without compromising the faith if you are going to continue.
The question we must ask is how did Paul continue to do right in spite of everything he faced? The answer is found when he said, “Having therefore obtained help of God…” Christian, you will never continue without the help of God. It is the help of God that gives you courage when the courageous fall. It is the help of God that gives you strength when your strength has failed. It is the help of God that helps you stand when others are trying to beat you down. You will never continue without the help of God.
Can you like Paul say, “I continue?” You will face obstacles and difficult times as you serve God, but you must continue. Friend, stop looking for the help of man and look for the help of God. If you continue until you get to Heaven, you will only do so with the help of God.