Consistency can be good or bad, depending on its aim. To explain, we typically aim our consistency in one of three directions: we are either consistently living for God, consistently living against God, or consistently on the fence, keeping one foot in the world while desiring God’s blessings at the same time.
The latter two aims will simply not do. Our God desires a people who consistently live for Him – people who “continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard…” (Col. 1:23). A great example of an individual who was consistent for God is found in Timothy.
The apostle Paul first met young Timothy in Lystra on his second missionary journey, and in 2 Timothy 4:9, Paul longs for Timothy to come and be with him in his last hour. Timothy was with Paul at the beginning, the end, and everywhere in between. Paul spoke of Timothy as being the only one like-minded (and Paul had the “mind of Christ” - 1 Cor. 2:17), one who genuinely cared for the saints, one whose character and worth were proven time and again, and one who served him faithfully as a child served his father (Philippians 2:19:22).
Paul could count on Timothy. When he called for him, he came. When he sent him out, he went. He was a worker who was always there to strengthen, encourage, and comfort the brethren in multiple churches (cf. 1 Thess. 3:1-3). Timothy’s whole life was consistent with his initial level of radical devotion (Acts 16:3).
Are we consistently living for God as Timothy did? A practical way to sum up the idea of consistency for God is simply being there for Him. Are we there rain or shine, when the church doors open? Are we there when the saints gather for Bible study, or simply to spend time with one another outside of the assembly? Are we there at the hospital when ill brethren need comfort and encouragement? Are we there at our bedside in prayer before our God? Are we there standing for Truth in the world, even when no one else will? Are we there for our children and our spouses?
Unfortunately, we cannot be in multiple places at once. Sometimes we would love to “be there,” but we are somewhere else. The point is, we need to make sure “somewhere else” is somewhere God would want us to be.
We may never be able to be everywhere for everybody, but we can determine to be everywhere for God by consistently living for Him and His glory.
Brian Messerli