Don't give up ( Hebrews 11 v 35b - 39 )

In the Bible we read of those who give up following the Lord,and I personally know many who have .There are many reasons why this happens, in 2 Timothy 4 v 10, we read, ''Demas,because he loved this world, has deserted me''.One of the temptations that the Devil used against the Lord was connected with the world and its splendour,  ( Matthew 4 v 8 ) but of course He rejected his offer. Moses we read rejected the glory of Egypt and all that this meant, why ? because he saw a greater glory, not with his natural eyes, but with the eye of faith. ( Hebrews 11 v 24 - 27 ) The world has in one sense much to offer us, and in another sense it has little to offer us,it depends  on how we view the world and its tempting offers, with our natural sight, or with the eyes  of faith.Yes the world can offer us pleasure, and so we go back,which leads unto perplexities . It was Jobs wife who tempted  him to curse God,(Job 2 v 10 ),but Job resisted that temptation, and said something we all need to hear,''shall we accept good from God, and not trouble''.Because our world falls apart ,tragedy strikes, and we like Jobs wife see faith in God as pointless,we are perplexed,and refuse to trust God to help us through, so we give up.It is sad when Christian's  receive hurts from other Christians,even from their ministers,or even their best friends. Whatever it may be ,there is no guarantee that we will not experience it,we live in a fallen planet,that will never change,never.The abiding truth is this, the only hope for us,and the safest place for us, is to abide in Christ,to not go back,to not give up.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            John Bunyan spent 12 years in prison                                                                                                        for simply preaching God's word. He                                                                                                        lived in danger of  being executed                                                                                                            many where.His first wife died leaving                                                                                                    with 4 children,one of them blind.                                                                                                                          He wrote                                                                                                                                      He who would valiant be gainst all disaster                                                                                              Let him in constancy, follow the Master,                                                                                                  There's no discouragement,shall make him                                                                                               once relent. His first avowed intent,  to be                                                                                                 a pilgrim.                                                                                                                                                                     HE DID NOT GIVE UP.