“And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.”

Evidently, the writer has detected some easing off on the part of some of the believers he is addressing. While some or most are pursuing a course of pleasing God and working hard in His vineyard others aren’t. The aim here seems to be the idea of making your calling and election sure. We must keep in mind that one of the things most upsetting to Jesus is those who take a so-so attitude. Not giving our faith an all-out effort is to be lukewarm.

This effort is to get us all the way to the end. Jesus warned against putting the hand to the plow and looking back. It just isn’t done. We can’t make a good start and then relax. This argues against those who think that once you’ve accepted Jesus as your savior its all over. The Bible really doesn’t teach coasting into heaven. The word here is earnestness. All in is our modern term. We can’t slow up in our walk of faith and service to God, thus resting on our previous works.

Task for Today: Don’t slow up. Don’t ease off. Don’t quit in the middle of the fight. Satan will not ease up on you, and you mustn’t relax where he is concerned. You’ve taken up the plow, right? Don’t look back. Press on to the goal of the high calling you have received. Today, renew your effort, seek heaven even more than yesterday. Be pro-active in your walk.