As Paul comes to the end his first letter to the saints in Corinth he admonishes them, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (15:58). The first word in this verse calls attention to all that had just been said. He had devoted over fifty verses proving that the resurrection of Jesus is the assurance that we also will be raised and that our faith is based on the surest foundation. The application is found in this final verse. We must always abound in serving Him with a steadfast and immovable faith.
Consider how immovable the faith of His children is revealed throughout the Bible. Listen to the words of the psalmist. “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved” (Psa. 62:6). In another psalm David described God’s help in our walk with Him. “He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber” (Psa. 121:3). Our faith in our immovable God makes it possible for us to always to be abounding in our service of Him.
We must remember that because of our faith in Him we are more powerful than the combined power of all the demons of hell. We are more powerful than Satan himself. When those times come when life’s circumstances tries our faith, remember that He who cannot lie has said, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). It is not that sometimes Satan may flee from us. When we resist him, he will flee.
The faith of Paul was immovable. As he approached Jerusalem for the last time he was determined to deliver the contribution from the Gentile churches to their Jewish brethren. He stopped at many cities on the way, and at every stop Divine prophecies foretold what lay ahead for him. “Now I bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulation await me” (Acts. 20:22-23).
How did he respond to trials and tribulations he was about to face? “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy” (Acts 20:24).
This same apostle wrote to the church in Romans and lists the trials we face as Christians. The list includes tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth or any other created thing. What did he conclude about these things? “In all these things we are more than conquers through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:35-39).
God, help us all to have immovable faith!