Believer or unbeliever, eternity is set and prepared before all (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and what makes the difference is where you would spend shall spend the eternity after death. In the light of this truth, let us not pause in uncertainty or unwillingness to pay a closer look and thoughtful attention to the potential consequences of any move, reaction, response and decision that we are making concerning our lives or that of others around us and of those that cross our paths and had encountered with in life. Let us be in a state of readiness to respond positively and bravely to the eternal cause of God for us to fulfil in our own life as well in someone else’s life. It could be broad reaching out to a whole nation like in the case of Esther to save and Joseph’s to nourish and preserve. You were not sent on earth just to eat, live, multiply and died. There are higher purposes (high calling of God in Christ Jesus) having to do with eternity you must discover as you’re within a shorter distance each day into eternity. Jesus knew the cause or purpose for his life on earth. When asked about his identity, in a blunt and direct manner confessed it before Pilate – I came to the world to bear witness to the truth and to die for the truth with efficacious of eternal life in view for those that will hear and believe the truth. John 18:37. Let us carefully put God’s pleasure, celestial interest and good conscience first into consideration (stand not in an evil thing; for God does whatsoever pleases him. Ecclesiastes 8:3b) before we undertake to share in the activity of a group or individual – before we engage in any adventure of life and before we take decision to quit or to stay, once we are in it. Let the determinant factor of our action be weighed and balanced in the constitution of life that whatsoever we do, in word or indeed, it should be done to the glory of God and are led by the Spirit of God. Though we are not the initiator of a project, but despite anything to the contrary, we could see the hand and course and the purposes of God in it, put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Let us not abandon any pursuit, post, position, participation, assignment and what will make God happy about us in even if we have to lose friendship with our close friend to favour whom we don’t like better or value more highly (then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou charges t me today with a fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. 2. Samuel 3:8-10) to the disadvantage of our friend to make a good call to the glory of God.  At that very particular time and purpose in the life of Rehab the harlot, before the spies that were sent to Jericho, the fate and fulfilment of destinies of the ten men that were sent to spy the land Jericho were in her hands, but her life and destiny as well were also in her hands to decide and it all depends on her help to get involved with the spies, to cooperation or betray, but she saw that God was on the side of the spies and she took the risk and made the right decision (took her stand) in the matter to save the spies and saved her life and generations after her.
Life is full of surprises. Sometimes man’s calculated duration of outcome of events, activities and endeavours are wrongfully presumed or speculated. If the heart is not right with God, we can easily felt disappointed, disillusioned – morale is down to zero level and are weakened in spirit and mind –hope delayed makes the heart sick. With God, things are not always and instantly – perfectly worked out as human’s predictions and expectations are, but if we are determined to stay the cause and keep walking faithfully with the Promise keeper, the outcome shall be greater than our overall estimations, calculations and expectations – for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that rewarded them that diligently (stay the cause) seek him. Hebrews 11:6.  God is a present helper and generous giver able to help and lift us up beyond our strength, desire and request to his glory. It may take time longer than we hoped for, but according to God’s time if we hold on to the cause (for at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God. And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 12:22-23) we shall definitely breakout and breakthroughs.
Individual is unique in purpose of existence, assignment and fulfilment in life before passing on to eternity. We are separately called but overall well equipped to last and endure before God under any situation (windy or calm weather – summer or winter- rainy or dry) if we should follow the paths God has marked out for us in life. This is what makes us the over-comers. But first, we must discover God as the life to live in Christ Jesus. Nothing is worth pursuing if it’s not in any way glorifying God and able to endure the test of fire for eternal worthwhile and reward. What is the purpose of achieving grandeur in this life only to found out it has no accolade (signifying approval) before God after life? Life has it different seasons, time and purposes. Sometimes, the outcomes of events and endeavours are not as accurate as we predicted and hoped for, especially if we are in it with naysayers and doubters who would waste no time to make a mock at the slow pace of our achievements and in a discouraging manner abandon us in the middle of the way to keep wrestling alone in our quest for answer and solution from God. The act of abandonment and walking away doesn’t look nice, isn’t? But I bet they would be the first to come around to apologise for their mistakes and errors to abandon you when the story is changed and without controversy witnesses that you have come into a new season of walking in your high places. 2 Samuel 23:10. In life, you have the power of choice. You can choose to be intimidated by your challenges and struggles or you can keep on trusting in the first vision showed you by God. Never be afraid to go within to see and hear what the Spirit of God is saying and come out knowing that you can make it happen with God on your side if you stay the cause. Initially, after his encountered with Christ which led to his conversion, nobody took Apostle Paul for a real child or servant of God to help or put him through. It was very difficult for Apostle Paul, but he chose to stand his ground and kept the faith to finish the race and to fulfil his ministry with success, through many tribulations. Today, he’s widely celebrated in Christ as a great ambassador and orator above all the apostles that began with Christ. ‘At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever’. Amen. 1 Corinthians 15:10. 2 Timothy 4:16-18.
Three things are required as consideration to stay the cause if the cause worth defending and staying up to. (1) Holiness of God – the will of God. (2) The scriptural background. (3) What would be God’s reaction at the end, based on my judgement of involvement if at all it is scriptural? Philippians Chapter 1, verses 9 – 10 – and this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. The prayer is to increase in love and in knowledge and judgement (right and godly decision) in discernment – to approve things that are excellent before God. So therefore, you’re staying on any cause or supporting it based solely on the scriptures. You are not to get involved in any evil thing or unholy alliances to stand with or fight for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) right against marginalization. It is damnable to stand up in support of what God is against in his word. You should only get involves promoting man or cause which is in the will of God. For example, you just amazingly found out that your legally married husband or wife with children has been living a double standard sexual lifestyle for many years as Bisexual – sexually involves actively with men and women. First, you prayerfully confronted him or her and the truth was told. You sought to bring him or her into repentance before the Lord but instead obliged you to choose between going along with your new reality and discovery if you love him or she, or you should leave. What and who would you chose after many years of relationships with children? Would you stand for the truth or stand to protect your defiled marriage? If it a case of adultery, we know that infidelity is heart-broken and fatal, considering the spread and rate of STD’S mortality today. If the strength of forgiveness and peace to move on together is strong enough to overcome the hurt and its painful memories of betrayal without repeating it over and over again, and you can overlook it as if nothing has happened (he that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends. Proverbs 17:9) you can stay the cause for the kids’ sake and for the second chance to build together, if you so wish. But if the offender is marked by tenacious unwillingness to change, adultery itself is a ground of removing yourself from the past, present and future commitment in that relationship. What do you do as a child of God? It’s not your call to stay the cause; you ought to separate yourself from such wicked person according to the scriptures. I Corinthians 5: 12. If you are married to an obnoxious, abusive and violent husband or woman, the constitution and position of the western law is obvious that you are not able to live peacefully in harmony and the scripture is clear on the issue – it is not your call to stay the cause, lest accidentally one or both of you are sent to the early grave in the cause of altercation. Proverbs 17:1. Proverbs 21:9. If you are married to a lovely spouse before your conversion as a Christian, and such half partner though an unbeliever is good, considerate, lovely, respectful and doesn’t bother you against your newly found faith in Christ Jesus, it is your duty and obligation to stay the cause in that relationship in submission to the word of God. Perhaps, through your good comportments and changed life, who knows if your spouse would be encouraged and challenged to give his or life to the Lord according to the scriptures? Sudden and unforeseen sickness that renders the spouse infirm, immovably, insane, childless, lame, or sudden negative change in financial income (marital austerity season) sudden stroke attack leading to impotency (loss of libido) should not be the reason to become adulterous and adulterer or totally abandoned your marriage for great future prospect – you must faithfully stay the cause in that marriage till the end, it could be your little trial and thorn in the flesh to make heaven. It is evil to commit suicide because of a certain health issue or mercifully kill an epilepsy or autism child or leave such behind in a secret location for social services care to be taken in for an orphan – whereas you are called to stay the cause and tackle the problem with the child till the end. The bad people can’t figure God out. The selfish and the heartless, the wicked and the coward, the betrayal or traitors and the inhumane persons shall give account before the great white throne of God for their lack of sympathy and regards to be there for somebody – refused to be kind in disposition and manner and for the forward spirit displayed when they came face to face with their ‘such a time as this situation you’ve been spared to live hitherto’ but instead frown at it. Job 31:17-21. There are three qualities and basic and fundamental characteristics to look attentively in men and women who are staying the cause. (1) They are staunchly – firm and dependable in loyalty – steadfast in allegiance and duty. You don’t need to be told that they are in it together with you to the end- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58. (ii). They are the optimistic people with hopes and expectations that all is going to turn out well at the end and they encourage you both in word and action – blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke 1:45. (iii). They are not in haste for success, but are emboldened with strength to endure trying circumstances with good temper and faithful obedience – you are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:28-30.
Walking, serving and seeking God daily is the design and purpose of our existence. It is the greatest cause to stay onto till our last breath on earth even as Enoch walked with God and we saw him no more, for God took him away to himself – heaven. This is the ultimate cause to embrace in pursuit of eternal laurels and glory. If you do not pursue and stay on this cause, your life is senseless, meaningless and wasted. Once you start to walk with God, he detests the idea of going back, because his soul shall have no pleasure in those that cannot stay the cause as it is impossible for a man having put his hand into the plough and looking back to fit for the kingdom of heaven. Hebrews 10:38. Ruth cleaved to her mother-in-law (Naomi) not because of anything but to continue in her walk with the God of the Hebrews she discovered and established a relationship with in her brief time with her husband before his deceased. The thought of staying behind in Moab was the snare of going back to serve Chemosh the gods of Moab. She answered her mother-in-law when she was persuaded to go back, your God shall be my God, and your people shall be my people, where you die, I will die. The Lord do so to me and more also, if nothing but death separates both of us. For Ruth, it was not about seeking for a new husband or starting all over again in no man’s land. It was all about growing in the knowledge, relationship and worship of God (and she said, behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law. Ruth 1:15) and it has nothing to do about Naomi. She took the decision to re-position and re-align herself to stay the cause to walk with God till the end. Just see how she was generously rewarded and honored by God as Ruth the Moabites woman was brought in among the ancestors of David and Christ after her unexpected and gifted marriage to Boaz. The true purpose of your life is only in God – your fruit and help is in him. The ideas of ‘it is better to die in the wilderness, or it is better to die in the land of Egypt, or is it better to die now is bashful – showing fear and lack of courage – coward would not enter heaven. Without courage and optimism that it shall be well, you cannot stay the cause, and then fail to enter into his present and future eternal rest. Ruth 1:18. Behold we count them happy which endure to stay the cause and confesses that their redeemer is alive. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. If you can see the cause, the enemy cannot intimidate and bully you to lose sight of the purpose and God’s glory, but to keep the rank till he will suddenly appears for your glory and reward. Is there not a cause? 1 Samuel 17:29.
 
 
Hold the forth – stay the cause
 

1. Ho, my comrades! See the signal waving in the sky! Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Refrain.
Hold the fort, for I am coming, Jesus signals still; Wave the answer back to Heaven, By Thy grace we will.

2. See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on; mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!
3. See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow! In our Leader’s Name we triumph over every foe.
4. Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near; onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!