THE INSEPARABLE IDENTICAL TWINS

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7). 

There is power in being consistent and being persistent. Consistency and persistency are like identical twins. They both point to the habit of doing something regularly or continuously. Any particular thing you do all or most of the time becomes your character by which you are defined. Our consistent actions or pattern of life puts a label on us, a tag by which people refer to us. There are three things I want you to remember. 

First, I want you to know that you will eventually be well known for whatever you keep doing, in thoughts, words and actions. If you are consistent in well doing, you will soon have a reputation for being a kind and humane person. And if you persists in evil deeds, you will eventually become notorious for being evil. The obvious truth is that each of us can decide what we want to be known for, whether good or bad. The people of Crete must have been so consistent in telling lies that they eventually established a bad reputation for themselves. It became known everywhere that "Cretians are alway liars" (Titus 1:12). But the people of Berea had a reputation for being noble because of their consistent practice of engaging the Holy Scriptures (Acts 17:11). 

Secondly, I want you to know that you will be eventually rewarded for whatever you keep doing. No labour on earth will go unrewarded, especially if you are consistent with it. If you want to get caught and punished for robbery, all you need to do is to keep on stealing. You may be able to get a bailout from the consequences of the wrong you commit accidentally. But when it is time for the full reward of consistent evil deeds, no magic or miracle can set you free. You must reap what you have sown, and that in good quantity. However, the Bible also assures that those who are consistent in well doing should not become weary because in due season, they shall receive a reward (Galatians 6:9). 

Finally, you will be best remembered for whatever you keep doing. Your occasional deeds may be forgotten after a while but your consistent actions or words become engraved on the sand of time. Even long after you have gone, people will refer to you by the things they remember that you do consistently. The bottom line is that whatever you keep doing defines you in the eyes of the people, and will continue to define your posterity. We may forget so many things about David but he will forever be remembered as the sweet Psalmist of Israel. We may forget many things about Thomas, but his consistent doubt about the resurrection of Jesus Christ earned him that permanent sobriquet, "doubting Thomas". Ahab repented before God once, but he is best remembered till today for his unparalleled wickedness. 

Friends, you can choose what you want to be known and remembered for. If you patiently continue in well doing, the Bible says that your end shall be glory and honour, with eternal life as the ultimate reward. May the reverse not be your portion in Jesus Christ's mighty name.