Enduring Faith

I was saddened. I never imagined it would happen to Phil.

Years ago, I organized a couples' retreat and invited the former director of my college ministry and his wife to be our guest speakers. During one of the breaks, as our conversation turned to people we had known, I asked about Phil, my Bible study leader.

Phil had grown up in a rough part of rural Australia and, after high school, went to England to work in the mines. Seeing a bright young man making unhealthy choices, an older miner took him under his wing. He shared his faith with him and encouraged him to pursue an education. Phil took his advice seriously, applied to colleges in the U.S., and that is where our paths crossed.

I had admired Phil. His love for Scripture, dedication, and steadfastness influenced my faith formation. So, when I learned that he had walked away from faith right out of college, my heart sank. It was difficult to comprehend how someone who had helped nurture the faith of so many no longer considered faith part of his own life.

This Sunday, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower, a story about the importance of an enduring faith. As farmer scatters seeds some never take root, some spring up quickly but wither just as fast, and some are choked by competing priorities. Only a small number of seeds bear lasting fruit.

The annals of church history are filled with stories of people who once trusted in Jesus but over time have drifted away. Every congregation has membership rolls containing names of people who were once active but no longer darken the doorway.

This does not necessarily mean that their faith was not real. Most likely, as life priorities shifted, faith was set aside and eventually disappeared altogether.

During college, Phil found time for both his studies and his faith. But when ambition of developing a successful career intensified, God gave way to busyness. Although for Phil it was one dramatic decision, in most cases it is a series of small choices until life no longer includes God.

The good soil of faith does not happen by accident. It is cultivated through daily decisions to make room for God. Enduring faith requires a lifetime of making decision to include God.

May we be people of good soil. May our roots grow deep. And may our faith endure through every season of life.

Pastor Sunny