A dear brother from soulsupply.com, has brought to the surface a very useful topic that is often overlooked.  He rightly points out that a Christian may be diligent in all things of Christ yet fall short because of pride.

Though he may not lose a place in eternity for his shortcomings, he will likely lose some measure of reward. Not desiring that any of my brothers should lose. And since it is our duty to sharpen one another, for the sake of our service to our Lord Jesus. I thought it might be useful to post a little more information in regard to what brother Taylor has exposed.

I will start by confessing that there are two games I really don’t mind losing.  One is called “Whack a Mole”.  It is impossible for a man to win at that game.  But there’s a good deal of joy to be had in losing.

If you’ve never played the game, you stand in front of a bench with holes in it. In your hand is a soft mallet. Little mole heads pop up one at a time in one or another hole. It would be amusing enough just to watch it played.

One by one little mole heads pop up.  And it is your delightful duty to smash them back down with the hammer.  As you get better it gets faster.  At some point you get the joy of hearing the mole say, “Now I’m really angry!”

I don’t get much fun at wack’n the mole heads.  If that were all there is to the game I wouldn’t play it.  That’s too much work for too little gain.  But to hear the defenseless little mole get angry, is a belly full of laughs. The imagination sets fire to wonder what he will do while he’s angry.

The other game I enjoy losing is the fight with besetting sin.  I know that sounds really odd for a Christian to say. But we must remember that to lose in this world is to gain Christ. So I would rather lose then lose.

I had a besetting sin that would not leave me alone. Just like the little mole, I would no sooner pop my head up and the hammer would come and smash me back down. Yes, there was even a place where I am got really angry.

I tried everything. I tried prayer. I tried filling my days with Scripture. I confessed until I was hoarse. I tried restraint. I tried counseling from a respected fellow Christian. I tried everything I could possibly think of, but to no avail.

The harder I tried the quicker the sin would knock me down. Having no recourse, I struggled as far as I could then relied purely on Grace. It was not the solution I was trying to find. But I had exhausted all other possibilities.

Realizing utter failure, brings an ocean of tears and shame. Then, just when I was contemplating giving up entirely, the Lord came near me. I thought sure I would die the eternal death.

It was about the time for me to pop my head up again. I had walked some distance successfully. He gently put his hand on my shoulder and said, “It’s my turn. Just step back and watch.”

I heard the player say, Now I’m really angry!” the Lord raised his beautiful head up for me. I heard the familiar whistle of the Hammer head as it closed in on its target. But then I heard two sounds I have never heard before.

There was a mighty noise as hardened steel met the immovable. Then the smaller sounds of tingling metal pieces as they scattered on the floor. The player had met his match.

The Lord turned to me, completely unscathed by the impact. “You’ll be fine now son.” I closed my eyes while he kissed my forehead. When I open them again he was gone.

I cautiously poked my head up to see what had happened. I was startled at first to see the player standing with an angry face. But then I took note that he was restrained at arms length. The steel of his hammer covered the floor. I heard him threaten. With spit coming from his mouth he cursed at me. But his restraint would no longer let him attack.

I was free! No more fear. No more shame. No more tears associated with failure! In the place of groveling came a worship of praise and thanks.

I present this story for the sake of my brothers and sisters who suffer so intensely. I encourage you to suffer with diligence! Add to your attempts, standing on your head for three weeks, eat a big whopper from the inside out, count backwards from 10 million, or hold your breath for one hour. Whatever you do keep striving till you are sure you have exhausted all possibilities. The Lord will appear before you are allowed to give up all hope! He will not let you die.

I will add the following to uphold my brother’s message. In his message he warns against pride. Failure to heed his timely and well worded message has consequences.

When the Lord appears to take your place against a hidden or besetting sin, you may well suffer loss. Though at that point you likely won’t care.

If a sheep cannot behave itself in open pasture, surely the Lord will move it to a confined space. His love for his dear one will not change. But the place in which the dear one serves, will. You will find your besetting sin restrained. But you may also find restraints placed upon you.

Consider this as you struggle. Perhaps the love of freedom will give you strength. Or perhaps the thought of losing reward will stir you to more action. Regardless, Christ Jesus is Lord and Master! And he is fully willing and able to save.

I have written this story in first person. I am not ashamed that I have been released. And it gives me great pleasure to glorify our Lord. He will always be our head.

May God bless this post to those who need it most.

You will find the fullness of our brother’s text at this link, http://www.soulsupply.com/blog/n/faith-falling-140318?t=3382

By His Grace