There are two kinds of Christians—weak and strong. The strong Christians have become such because they gained their strength in Christ. The weak Christians have lost their hold on Christ, either momentarily, or habitually, but can become strong again if they turn to Jesus. We all have knowledge of the standard of Christ and have a desire to reach that standard. Many may claim to be Christians but are not willing to lay hold on Christ and fulfil the Bible requirements. The strong are faithful in doing missionary work, reading the Bible every day, praying to God constantly, and he enjoys it all; he is happy in doing God’s will. The habitually weak, while claiming to be Christians, have not let go of the world. They love to gratify appetite, they watch much television, they have no interest in helping others and give Bible studies; they are unhappy and complaining, and, in the end, they lose their salvation. They can become strong but they have no desire to do so.
Some are weak for a moment, having lost sight of Christ briefly, and make grave mistakes. Peter was weak for a moment and he denied his Lord. Adam and Eve were weak for a moment; they fell into temptation. Joseph was strong; he remained faithful to God in the land of Egypt, under temptations. Daniel was strong; he refused the king’s food. Now, what makes the difference between weak and strong Christians? Jesus said, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place: and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20. When nothing shall be impossible to you, then you can overcome every sin by faith, and become a strong Christians. “God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect.” 2 Samuel 22:33
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12
“But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” Micah 3:8
“And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” Luke 22:43
“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:32. We also can strengthen our brethren.
“Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.” Ecclesiastes 7:19
“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
“I saw that the strength of the children of God is in their humility. When they are little in their own eyes, Jesus will be to them their strength and their righteousness, and God will prosper their labors.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 307
“Love is power. Intellectual and moral strength are involved in this principle, and cannot be separated.” –Ibid., vol. 2, p. 135
When you decide to put all these requirements into practice, recognizing your weakness, you will receive the mighty power of God and nothing is impossible to you.
Now then, there is one more to add to this list. Paul said, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
How is this possible, to have strength in weakness? Jacob was strong. All night he was fighting, and in the morning he finally gained the victory. Now limping, he was tired from fighting all night, but now he was not afraid to meet his brother, Esau.
When we realize our weakness, and our helpless condition, then we become strong in the Lord. Then God will give us His power and His Holy Spirit.
The greatness of John the Baptist was his meekness, his humility. When he said, “I must decrease”, it was the sign of his greatness. Very few people, while in the prime of their manhood, can say this with meaning, “I must be smaller, less noticed, and less appreciated.”
Often a strong, talented man relies on his own wisdom and strength, so God cannot use him because in his self-reliance he is weak.
“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Often God has to bring in sickness, poverty, and rejection, that a man would come down from his pedestal, and understand his helpless condition, and cast human glory to the dust.
Do we know who is weak and who is strong? Was Jesus weak or was He strong, when He was nailed to the cross? “For though He was crucified through weakness, ye He liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” 2 Corinthians 13:4
Jesus was crucified in what appeared as weakness, yet He was strong. He was able to suffer pain, shame, mocking, without complaining. This became His glory; this was His greatest victory. Now He could say that all power in heaven and earth is given Me. This “weakness” of Christ gave power to the millions of believers that they also would become strong in their weakness.
Whom did God choose to do His work on the earth? Did He choose the weak or the strong ones? “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:27–29
Weakness is a source of strength—when recognize we are weak, then we can become strong in Christ.
One more source for strength that I would like to mention. Normally we go to the rich for money, to the strong for strength, and to the wise for knowledge. But there is a source of strength that we do not always understand. “When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest, and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 136
In the time of apostasy, when many fall, when many give up their faith, and the company of travelers is small, at that time we must gather warmth from their coldness, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.
We are living in a time as it was in the days of Noah; also our time is similar to the time of Sodom and Gomorrah. Everywhere we see selfishness, love of pleasure, hatred, jealousy, covetousness, betrayals, rebellion, treason, and from their coldness we must gather warmth, from their cowardice we gather courage, and from their treason loyalty.
Paul writes of his experiences: “Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:25–28
Among all these experiences, what does he say? “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
How many have lost their faith in perilous times, when hunger and weariness have been their lot, and how many
will say after all their trials, I have kept the faith.
What was the secret of Paul, that he did not lose his faith? Paul writes about the secret of his faithfulness. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17
The secret of his faithfulness was Jesus Christ dwelling in his heart, and also his love towards Jesus.
Sister White writes of her vision. “As we heard the sounds of mirth and revelry that seemed to come from the abyss below, we shuddered. We heard the profane oath, the vulgar jest, and low, vile songs. We heard the war song and the dance song. We heard instrumental music, and loud laughter, mingled with cursing and cries of anguish and bitter wailing, and were more anxious than ever to keep upon the narrow, difficult pathway. . . . We then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves to privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not in the company. At every change, some were left behind, and those only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships. The privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to the end.” –Life Sketches, p. 191
This is what we will experience in the time of the end.
When the Israelite people left Egypt, there were about 600,000 men, besides women and children. They all expected to go to the Promised Land, but during the 40 years of travel, many lost their faith and their lives. For example: the feast with the Moabites resulted in 24,000 losing their lives in the plague that followed. Finally, only two men, Joshua and Caleb, made it to the Promised Land, along with children and women. These two men gathered loyalty from the treason of others. When we lose our faith, we become confused, and the truth is not clear to us, and we may separate from the brethren.
But, even in the end, there will be strong faithful Christians who hold fast to the truth. “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.” Revelation 2:25–26
Let us hold fast to the truth, and we will be strong, and then we will meet each other in heaven. Amen.
Timo Martin