Not in Vain
Last month, when the summer days were just beginning, we decided to go for a family hike. We chose a nearby mountain (Mt. St. Hilaire) which had numerous trails and a panoramic view from the top. Only about 40 minutes from the city, I knew about it because my parents had taken me there several times when I was younger.
The climb to the summit was only about 3 km, but with two kids—ages 4 and 6—it was slow-going at times. Within 10 minutes of the start, the “I’m tired” comments began, and continued intermittently every 5 minutes until we reached the top! I managed to give piggy-back rides alternately to each of my children as we climbed. As we got higher and higher, the path got steeper and steeper. At several points along the way, the kids said that they couldn’t continue. Erin and I encouraged them to persevere and told them how it would all be worth it when we reached the top. And thankfully… it was. From the top, you could see the city in the distance and huge stretches of farm land in between. From the top you could see how all that work and effort finally had paid off.
The experience got me thinking about how serving God is much like a long hike. There are seasons of great joy and exhilaration, but then there are also challenging times where things get tough. And what’s needed, above all, in serving God, is perseverance. At the end of his letter to the Corinthians, Paul said, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
What an encouraging promise. What we do for God is not in vain. Once we reach heaven, we’ll look back and see how it was all worth it. Those sacrifices, those challenges, those meetings, those bible studies, those worship practices, that hospitality; those prayer times; that street evangelism; that mission’s trip. All the things you do for God that no one sees. It’s not in vain. One day you’ll see it’s all been worth it.
