RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.” (Revelation 19:11)
I remember a press report about a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan. Committed to his brand of radical Islam, he gave himself to killing his fellow countrymen in an opposing alliance. He believed the “evil” West and all of their friends must be destroyed.
But when American bombs begin to pound Taliban positions where he was fighting, he surrendered. Within minutes, this former Taliban soldier had taken up his weapons for the other side and had forgotten all his commitments to the Taliban. He began firing at the Taliban troops.
When I heard the story of the Taliban soldier, I thought of many Christians I’ve met throughout the years. Many believers say, “I love Jesus. I’m a soldier in His army.” We sing loudly and clearly, “I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.” But when the enemy begins to shoot his fiery darts, many turn tail and run. We like to follow Jesus when life’s battles are going our way. But when the circumstances change and our faith is tested, we discover what we’re really made of.
If we’re honest, we all must admit we’ve been unfaithful. There have been times we’ve ceased standing straight in the midst of the life’s battles. During some time in our Christian lives, we’ve all been guilty of faithlessness. We’ve all been like that Taliban soldier.
But one great truth about Jesus is that even when we’ve been faithless, He remains faithful. He can do nothing else, because that’s who He is. His nature is one of faithfulness. In fact, one of the names ascribed to Him is “Faithful.” In John’s Revelation, he saw Jesus in many ways. But toward the end, John saw Jesus on horseback, and He was called “Faithful and True.” Jesus is the One in the battle who never changes sides. When the going gets tough — when it gets impossible — Jesus remains faithful.
Jesus doesn’t escape the furnace when the heat is turned up. He walked with three Jewish lads in the middle of the fiery furnace, no matter how hot it became. He delivered them. And no matter how difficult it becomes, He walks with us through the fiery trials of life. His name is “Faithful.” He never changes.
He brings to pass what He says He will bring to pass. He doesn’t bail out when bombs are dropping or the furnace gets hotter. Great is His faithfulness, because great is Jesus. He’s the One on the white horse at the close of human history. His name is faithful. That’s why He’s the winner. When you understand who He is, then you understand your source of victory.