The third declared value of Vallejo International is that we desire to be a people who are faithful. A church that is truly Christ-centered and dependent on God will naturally be faithful to her Lord. Faithfulness is all about the Lord finding us loyal and trustworthy, reliable and dependable, constant and steadfast, to him and to his purpose.
In the book of Revelation, a faithful follower of Christ is one who refuses to compromise the Christian faith, even in the face of persecution and the threat of death. “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer…. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” (Revelation 2.10 TNIV). In other words, the faithful Christian will always remain steadfast and devoted to the way of Christ in every situation, never giving in to pressures to do otherwise, never resorting to ungodly behavior, even if it may mean being at a disadvantage in this world. The faithful will always declare, “I choose Christ.”
Faithfulness is also about obedience. It is about doing what the Lord instructs or commands us to do, without exception and without hesitation. In other words, a faithful follower is one whom God can depend on to be his loyal partner is accomplishing God’s purpose in the world. What the Lord commands, the faithful follower does. In one parable Jesus upholds the model of the faithful and wise slave who does everything that the master wishes. Such a servant is then aptly rewarded: “Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!” (Matthew 25.23 HCSB)
For the faithful, what matters most is what the Lord desires. Every other concern is placed under the authority and direction of God. Such faithfulness is an expression of confident trust in a God who is himself faithful. “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1.9 TNIV). “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is” (2 Timothy 2.13 NLT). “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10.13 NLT). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.9 TNIV).
With such a faithful God, how can we not be faithful?
—Keith Y. Jainga