Faith, hope, love: These will abide!

Faith, hope, love: How to remain standing

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13.

We cannot help but be losers without “these three” in life’s many trials, but with these three we cannot help but remain standing. It is impossible to please God without faith, and without love we are nothing. We have no hope without either faith or love. But with faith and love we can always rejoice in a living hope that will never put us to shame.

In Luke 21:36 Jesus says, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” The Scriptures tell us that there will be difficult times before Jesus returns. The love of many will grow cold, and men’s hearts will fail them for fear and the expectation of those things that are coming on the earth. (Luke 21:26) Jesus continues, “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” Luke 21:34.

A person can be broken down by all the things he both sees and hears around him. He does not have that faith that upholds him in a living hope. The Son of Man remains standing in everything. No one and nothing could overcome Him, and we can stand in the same Spirit of faith and love together with Him, both on this earth and in all eternity.

Spiritual weapons

By the power of God we are kept by faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5) With the eyes of faith we can see this great salvation and the glory for which we are being kept. Then we can suffer, endure, and bear all things, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13.

Our battle is against evil powers, and we must be well armed to be able to stand, in the evil day as well, after we have overcome everything. With faith, hope, and love, we will stand!