Faithful To the End

By Brian Mitchell       From ancient mythology comes the story of Penelope, who remained faithful to her absent husband Odysseus. Embarking with other heroes of his day, Odysseus had sailed away to the siege of Troy. Upon the fall of that city, he began that eventful voyage which, after an absence of twenty years, brought him back to Ithaca, his native land. His wife, Penelope, was a beautiful woman. During the absence of Odysseus, more than a hundred nobles had sought her hand. But hers was a beauty not of form alone, but of character and soul as well. She knew it was highly improbable that her lord would ever return.     For more than ten years her many important suitors had pressed their attentions. There seemed no refuge but in choosing one of them. She accordingly told them that when she had finished with a certain web she was weaving, she would make her choice. She worked on the web every day, but during the night would undo what she had wrought during the daytime. Thus she found delay. Odysseus entered the palace disguised as a beggar and found the suitors all assembled. In a trial of strength he proved himself the worthiest of the lot.     Penelope, still unaware of the presence of Odysseus, had provided for the contest his own bow, which she knew no other man could bend. So in one act Odysseus revealed himself to his faithful spouse and took revenge upon the insolent suitors who had so annoyed her. (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, #3398). Penelope’s is a story of faithfulness in waiting for her Lord to return.     It also provides an excellent parallel to the spiritual life as we Christians are called also to be faithful in waiting for the return of our Lord. ‘Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). Unfortunately, we are all aware, that many Christians are not as faithful as they need to be in their service to God.     Some worship every now and then but not with any kind of regularity, and some stop altogether in violation of the command to “not forsake the assembling of yourselves together.” (Heb.10:24-25). Others, after their conversion, may stop using alcohol or engaging in other worldly forms of entertainment, but after a while they begin using it again. Some after becoming Christians, begin reading the Bible, praying often to God and visiting the sick and shut-ins, but soon they decide that such is “just too much trouble” so they quit.     “Let it never be forgotten that glamour is not greatness; applause is not fame; prominence is not eminence. The man of the hour is not apt to be the man of the ages. A stone may sparkle, but that does not make it a diamond; people may have money, but that does not make them a success. It is what the so-called unimportant people do that really counts and determines the course of history. The greatest forces in the universe are never spectacular. Summer showers are more effective than hurricanes, but they get no publicity. The world would soon die if not for the fidelity, loyalty and consecration of those whose names are unhonored and unsung.” (James Sizoo).

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net