Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

FAINTHEARTED IS NOT A WINNER

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

It was 1950. I was eleven years old and a new product had begun to sweep the country…..HAD-A-COL: guaranteed to invigorate seniors with vim, vigor, and vitality! To promote the product the company advertised a “FREE” movie at MALCO Theater downtown. Actually the admission price was one box top from a purchase of HAD-A-COL. Furthermore, the kid that collected the most box tops would win a brand new Schwinn 26” bicycle.

Oh, how I wanted that bicycle! But, I figured, what’s the use. I lived in a very tiny community. While we had a lot of seniors, I just knew that the kids who lived in town would collect box tops by the bushel. So, I gave up before I started.

On movie day, I proudly produced my box top for admission, and enjoyed an exciting movie on the big silver screen. I think it was Hop-a-long Cassidy, Tim McCoy, Lash LaRue or some other childhood hero of the west.

When the movie was over, all the lights came on. It was time to determine who would get the new Cadillac of bicycles…..the sleek, new Schwinn. The person in charge started by asking who had collected 100 or more box tops. Holding my breath, I looked all around. In the theater filled with kids, not a single hand went up. So, the numbers called out got lower and lower. Finally the question: Who has ten box tops? One child raised his hand then made his way to the front. He won the bicycle with just ten box tops!!! I simply COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! I had no doubt at all that I could have gotten 25! Well, that was more than a half century ago, but I have never forgotten it. Never give up before you start. Always do the best you can do, and great things may happen. One thing is certain: faint-hearted is a loser, not a winner!

Now, who is it that you have neglected to witness to, thinking it would do no good anyway? This may very well be the time a precious, lost soul enters heaven’s doors. How would that make you feel?

FOR THOUGHT: Does Galatians 6:9 motivate you to keep on keeping on for the Lord? It is certain that there will be no reaping of reward if we are content to faint and fall by the wayside. It it should always be remembered that a witness you thought was rejected actually bore fruit years in advance. God uses things we see and hear for years into the future.