When Paul describes Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith, it reminds me of John’s revelation when Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1:8). There is something very comforting in this. Whatever He starts, He will always finish. In Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, he says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). The faith that you have living in you holds this promise. Trust the one who gave it to you and let Him perfect that which concerns you. “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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 Looking to Jesus means acknowledging Him as the Alpha and the Omega of our faith. We must learn to rely on Him from beginning to end. He must become our source, supply, and sufficiency for everything. Hebrews twelve says, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Heb. 12:15). The way people get into trouble is by taking their eyes off of Him. To fail to receive the grace of God is to lose sight of whom we must look to in running our race. If Jesus is the one who starts and finishes the faith we have been given, then we cannot let the difficulties we face rob us of “looking diligently” to Him. If we have a ticket to board a plane at a specific time and disregard the need to arrive on time, causing us to miss our flight, we cannot blame that on the pilot. That is what the word “fail” means. When a long-distance runner starts a race that requires all competitors to finish within a designated time, what happens if he lags behind or fails to finish according to the rules? Not only will the time spent running be in vain, but he will also fail to complete his course. God does not want any of us to be guilty of the same. We must stay focused on the finish line and never let anything distract or hinder our progress toward our intended goal. As believers, we have the responsibility to keep our eyes on Jesus so that we don’t miss the opportunity to partake in His grace, especially when it is most needed to help us finish what has been started in us. God is faithful to do His part, and it is up to us to be faithful in doing ours. This reminds me of what Jesus taught concerning the ten virgins. Five of them were wise, and five of them were foolish. The foolish ones were those who failed to keep their lamps full. When they heard that the bridegroom was coming, they suddenly realized they didn’t have enough oil to go out to meet Him. When they asked the wise for some of their oil, they replied, “Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matt. 25:9). The Bible says, “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage…but afterward came also the others…” (Matt. 25:10, 11). This word “afterward” comes from the same root word “fail,” which corresponds with the idea of failing of the grace of God. The message this conveys is that to keep our lamps full, we must maintain a pace consistent with God’s grace. I like to think of God’s grace as our “ace” for the “race.” The reason the five wise virgins could not share the oil they had with those who were foolish shows that we cannot run someone else’s race, nor can we obtain God’s grace to finish their course. This is a personal journey that requires each of us to look to Jesus for ourselves. The oil mentioned in this parable represents our personal consecration and dedication. While we can help strengthen and support one another, we cannot live each other's lives as believers, nor can we uphold the responsibilities that grace demands of us. We must pursue this individually by looking “diligently” to Jesus and keeping our eyes fixed on Him. We all need God’s supply. This is why we must diligently look to Jesus. One definition for this word, “diligently,” suggests being quick or in a hurry to do something. There are times in our lives when stepping into God’s grace requires us to act promptly. The Lord can provide very specific guidance in directing our steps, but when all is said and done, it’s up to us to be diligent in acting when necessary. He may tell us what to do and where to go, but ultimately, it is our responsibility to be diligent in moving with Him so that His grace becomes our sufficiency. Let me emphasize this again: what He starts, He is most capable of completing. It is what we do in between that determines how the race will end. Faith does not consider the conditions of the race or the challenges that arise along the way. It never lags behind or grows weary in doing good. It continues to fight against the pressures that come, “enduring as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:22). You may be going through a battle that feels endless, but rest assured, if you keep your eyes on Jesus, one day it will be worth it all. Decide right now; there is no looking back, drawing back, or falling back when it comes to living by the faith of the Son of God (Gal. 2:20). The same faith that enabled Christ to endure the cross, despising the shame, and see the joy ahead is the faith each of us has living in us. ... See David Dunning - Page 16 14 GLAD TIDINGS OCTOBER 2025 Get It On Paper People read the newspaper for many different reasons. Some want to stay abreast of the latest local, state and national news, while others read the sports pages word-for-word. Still others enjoy reading about the arts and entertainment scene, or scanning the latest auto classifieds. But the best news of all is the Glad Tidings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the “good news!” Subscribe today to a paper the whole family can enjoy. Only $12.00 for 1 year (6 issues). Checks please - No Cash Glad Tidings P. O. Box 1116 Douglas, Ga. 31534 912-384-6896 NEWSPAPERS PRAY FOR THE PEACE Of JERUSALEM Salvation Prayer If you have not made Jesus Christ Savior and Lord ... pray the following prayer in faith, and Jesus will be your Lord! Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” and “if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9). You said my salvation would be the result of Your Holy Spirit giving me new birth by coming to live in me (John 3:5-6, 15-16; Romans 8:9-11) and that if I would ask, You would fill me with Your Spirit and give me the ability to speak with other tongues (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:4). I take You at Your Word, I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins, for coming into my heart, for giving me Your Holy Spirit as You have promised, and for being Lord over my life. Amen. Welcome into the Family of God JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH DAVID AND BETTY DUNNING
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