Religion

How do you maintain a ‘Never Say
Die’ attitude?

By Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D.
Special to Capital Outlook

We live in a world where there will be constant tribulations. These trials may come in the form of unemployment, sickness, mental health or death. Since tribulations are a part of life, the critical questions to be asked are: How do you maintain a “Never Say Die” attitude?” What are the three points driven by the story of the four lepers in the bible? How does it relate to the current day lesson of “Never Say Die?” These questions were addressed at First Timothy Baptist Church’s Wednesday Night Bible Service on September 16.

Dr. Ronald Holmes was the facilitator for the bible study using the book titled “Beyond the Sunday Sermon.” To maintain a “Never Say Die” attitude, Holmes shared his experience with the congregation as a student-athlete. Holmes said he was told that a winner never quits, and a quitter never wins. Holmes emphasized that you never quit anything in life, no matter how difficult the task. Rather, you keep hope alive because the best is yet to come when you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Regarding the lesson on “Never Say Die,” Holmes cited three key points about the four lepers’ situation to current events: They were (1) conversation and retreat; (2) the calculation to remain; and (3) the courage over risk. Dr. Holmes said the lepers engaged in conversations about their choices for survival in 2 Kings 7:4 just as many family members engaged in conversations about their choices for survival in taking the COVID-19 vaccine or doing absolutely nothing and possibly dying. While many Americans chose to retreat, do nothing, and subsequently died from the virus, the lepers decided to go to the camp of the Syrians (2 Kings: 7: 5). According to Dr. Holmes, they had a Job type mentality. When Job said, “Yet He slay me, I still will trust in Him (Job 13:15).”

In key point two, Dr. Holmes said the lepers raised the critical question: “Why sit we here until we die?” (2 Kings 7: 3). They realized that sitting was not going to make them well but would lead to their immediate death. Holmes noted this was not the case for the people in the U.S. While dying in the hospital from COVID-19, many people stated they wished they had taken the vaccine to save their lives. According to Dr. Holmes, the lepers realized that time was of essence for them; and the Lord said, “I’m going to do a new thing even in the wilderness” (Isaiah 43:19).

In response to key point three, Dr. Holmes said leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks displayed courage over risk and decided to make the world a better place to live. Considering the risk of dying, the four lepers entered the camp of the Syrians, where they found the Syrians had fled, and left all their goods, possessions and belongings. Holmes indicated this miracle was through the grace of God who allowed the lepers’ courage over risk to become a blessing to them (2 Kings 7: 5-8).

In summary, this bible story about the four lepers encourages believers to have trust in God and never quit. Next Wednesday night’s (September 27) lesson is, “The Gift of Prayer” from the book, “Beyond the Sunday Sermon” on pages 219 – 224; scripture is Hebrews 4: 14 – 16. 

To hear the lesson online from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. (EST), you can go to the First Timothy Baptist Church’s website. The book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.

Dr. Ronald Holmes is the author of 26 books and publisher of “The Holmes Education Post,” an education focused Internet newspaper. Holmes is a former teacher, school administrator, test developer and district superintendent. He has written children’s books about the coronavirus, solar system, flowers, careers and school bullying.  His adult books focus on religion, hazing, workplace bullying, bipolar disorders, issues in education and completing the dissertation.