articlesforchristians

Can’t never could because Can’t won’t try. This is something I heard my mom frequently say.

It means that unless you try for sure you will never do something because you didn’t even try.

Remember the story of the Little Engine that Could? “The Little Engine That Could” is a beloved children’s book that teaches the values of optimism and perseverance through the story of a small blue engine that triumphs against the odds. A few other engines that were bigger and better suited for the task refused to even try to help the toys get over the mountain. This story should remind us that perseverance and hope is sometimes the most important things that we could have. Because the little engine tried, the little engine was able to bring joy to the children.

Remember The Hare and the Tortoise? The tortoise won because he kept going. The hare was so puffed up with pride that he didn’t really try to win the race. He took a nap in the middle to the race, but the tortoise kept going.

In Paul’s writings, he compares the life of a Christian to running in the Olympic games. He says that many start, but the prize only goes to the one who finishes the race. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Many people hear the word of God, but not all will start following God. Just like in the story the Pilgram’s Progress, there will be people who start and then turn back because of difficulty. There are some like in the story of the Little Engine that never try because it is inconvenient. There are some people like in the story of the Hare and the Tortoise that think that they have no need of trying because they are just that good. Unfortunately, just like in the case of the hare, they are wrong. The tortoise knew that he was slow, but he also need that he could eventually reach his destination simply by trying.

There’s a country song that talks about how you will never reach your destination if you never try. It is called “The River” by Garth Brooks. In the song it talks about how some people are content to sit on the shoreline. It also explains that they will never reach their dreams or full potential because they do not try. Yes, sometimes there will be rough waters, trouble, but the prize is for the one who does not give up.