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One of Aesop’s fables is of a turtle that challenges a rabbit to a foot race. The rabbit is so certain he can outrun the slow turtle that he races ahead, and not seeing the turtle, he decides to take a nap. When he finally wakes up and still does not see the turtle, he assumes the turtle is still creeping along. The rabbit saunters to the finish line only to discover that while he was napping, the turtle had passed him and won the race. This illustrates how when things are going well with us, we take a nap, slacken in our spiritual disciplines, and slip away from our Lord. The absence of trials can deceive us into slipping away from God imperceptibly. It is why the author of Hebrews cautions us: “Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.” He quotes God’s word to Habakkuk that God takes no pleasure in anyone who turns away. So God urges us to remain steadfast and persevere when things are going well, lest we fall asleep, into temptation, and miss His best for us.
