Standing Strong with Thanksgiving

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by
the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be
saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

(ESV)

We began our study in Thessalonians by looking at the stormy beginning of the church in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9).  Because he was unable to remain in Thessalonica, however, Paul was unsure how strong these new believers would be in the face of persecution.  For this reason Paul sent Timothy to check on their welfare and was encouraged by the good report Timothy gave him (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13).  The strength of the church in Thessalonica was not built on the foundation of Paul being with them but instead was a strength based the sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth of the Word of God (2 Thessalonians 2:13). 

Even though most of us like to think we stand strong upon our own strength, the truth is we all stand strong based upon belief in something we see as bigger than ourselves.  For some this is a belief that they can stand strong based upon their education.  While education is important and can open doors of opportunity for us, it is not something we should base our entire lives upon. 

I graduated college with a degree in business and believed this knowledge would take me to the top of the business world.  However, once beginning my career in the real world it soon became evident my education only provided basic knowledge of business.  The real education process was only beginning and was ever changing as the business climate and technology changed.  In other words, the foundation of education is a sandy foundation that is ever shifting and not something we want to base our entire lives upon.

Some base their lives on their vast experience.  While experience is important, our world is in a constant state of change that can change the way things are done.  When I graduated from college in 1975 with my business degree, computers were something only large companies could afford.  My first job after entering the business world was with a small company helping them set up an accounting system.  The only electronic tool available was a calculator.  The books were kept on paper using journals and ledgers. 

I later found a job with a company doing their payroll.  This was a larger company that did the payroll on a computer.  All my experience had not prepared me for this change and I had to start all over learning something new.  As my career has advanced, I continually find myself having to learn new things.  My experience serves to tell me that things continually change and that I need to learn to adapt to these changes.  Experience like education is a sandy foundation upon which to base our lives and only serves to remind us we must continually adapt to changes around us. 

Unfortunately, others base their lives on the belief that their government will take care of their needs.  President Reagan said it well when he said, “the scariest words in the English language are, I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” (1) The riots and whining following the recent presidential election in the United States demonstrate the sandiness of this foundation for we are witnessing those erroneously building their lives on cradle to grave dependency on government reacting to seeing that foundation crumble. 

Jesus instructed his followers not to build the house of their lives on sand but to instead build their lives upon the rock of His words (Matthew 7:24-27).  Since Jesus is God (John 1:1), his instruction means we are to base our lives upon the sure foundation of the Word of God.  The church in Thessalonica remained strong even in the middle of extreme persecution because their foundation was based upon the Word of God shared by Paul when he had been with them and the letters he sent to them (2Thessalonians 2:14-15).  However, the truth is that since Paul’s spoken and written words were based upon the Word of God, their strength was based upon the Word of God. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a day set aside to reflect on what we are all thankful for.  I am thankful that I can stand strong on the Word of God and unlike the church in Thessalonica which only had the spoken and written letters from Paul, we have the benefit of easy access to the Word of God through the Bible in the form of a book, on our computers, smart phones, and tablets.  If you are reading this and have placed the foundation of your life on some sandy foundation, I want to encourage you on this day before Thanksgiving to place the foundation of your life on the sure foundation of the Word of God. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and may God richly bless your lives and join me in being thankful for the sure foundation of our salvation in Jesus Christ and His Word. 

1. youtube. The Nine Most Terrifying Words. www.youtube.com. [Online] Youtube, August 6, 2011. [Cited: November 19, 2016.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhYJS80MgYA.