God’s promised to reward those who persevere. Keep your eyes on Christ, and keep growing. Stay hot for the gospel with serving love.

First, press on. Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Don't stop now. Just because we've started does not mean that we’ve finished. We've reached base, but we're not home yet. The gospel is not, "He who begins," but, "He that endures!" Matthew 10:22, “You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.”

Keep going, dear saints! Don't grow cold. Don't break the preacher's heart and ruin yourselves. Stay in the gospel, and stay hot. Abound more and more. Increase in godliness and gospel preaching! Testify of Christ more and more.

The gospel should be hot like a kettle, bubbling up in sincere love. Old age should increase our passion and faithfulness. Like wine, we should mature in love, tenderness, and gentleness. We should become more like Christ as we grow [Philemon 1:8-9].

Get stronger in grace. Go to Christ to be renewed increasingly [Titus 3:5]. Don’t get satisfied with what you are. Don’t compare yourself to the faults of others. See the examples of Scripture, believe in sufficient grace, and keep going. Keep on denying yourself and obtaining fresh mercy. Continually honor the Lord.

Secondly, here's the problem: People set their mind on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19, “For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things.” They get caught up with the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches. Other things choke out the word. Mark 4:19, “But the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” They live for themselves, and reveal that they never trusted Christ. They don't love Him, nor forsake all for Him. Their love grows cold [Matt 24:12]!

It's horrible to see people leave Christ. They confessed the truth but couldn't persevere. They even justify their lukewarmness by BLAMING OTHERS. They find a reason not to preach Christ. They never loved Him; it was all a show. Their god is their belly. They live for the world - the praise of man, easy living, and corruptible silver and gold. They can no longer stomach gospel preaching, and they despise sincere love. They look upon service by the blood of Jesus with utter apathy. They are comfortable in this world.

It is a shock, but these dogs return to their vomit to warn us. They leave Christ to show us, “Do not follow them. Stir yourself up. Don’t grow cold!”

Thirdly, the power will be given! Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.” Everything we need to serve God is ours. If He can change us on the Last Day, then He can change us now by the Spirit. Romans 8:11-12, “And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you. So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh.” There is no doubt about this and no need to look within. No one can stop you from transforming into the likeness of Christ! This is the working of God's mighty power, who can do more than we ask or think.

One day, we'll be perfected! Our glorification will usher in an unceasing praise, love, and happiness. Our joy will overflow and abound, forever and ever. There'll be no more trials or temptations. No more hurting or persecutions. There'll be no more warfare. Thomas Vincent on his deathbed said, “Farewell, sin!”

Hold on, dear saints, until your change comes. Press on to the resurrection. Look to your glorious hope. Don’t draw back or slow down: It gets better and better, and then we get heaven!