Focus: Success At All Costs!

Text: Mk.2:4

"And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."

Four friends had a need. The need was to help an incapacitated friend of theirs to meet with Jesus Christ and be set free from his paralysis. Mark tells us that they were unable to get to Jesus Christ because of the crowd. Jesus Christ was inside the house and the whole space, both inside and outside, was overcrowded with people. 

The four friends could not meander their way through the crowd. Those in front refused to make room for those coming from behind. But these four friends were determined and focused. They could not be deterred or discouraged from meeting their goal. Quitting was not in their dictionary. They felt that they had come too far to let go of their desire to help their friend. As they were contemplating of the next line of action, one of them got an idea that they could make use of the staircase outside the house. Then they decided to try it out. They took their friend and climbed the staircase and made their way to the top of the house, and then they found one more obstacle, which was the roof. To get to where the Christ was required tearing down the roof, and to do that required a lot of audacity and capacity. Those inside the house would suffer the inconveniences and someone must bear the cost of the damage to the roof. The truth is: to succeed in this life is not easy. 

The path of success is full of prices to pay and sacrifices to make. Succeeding is not so simple; it's expensive and exhausting. Only the determined succeed. Only the insistent and persistent succeed in this life. Succeeding requires perseverance and a never-say die attitude or spirit. You don't quit in the face of obstacles or adversity. 

Whatever obstacles you may face in life you must not conclude that success is unachievable. Keep fighting and conquering until you succeed. It is said that where there's a will, there is a way.

The four friends damned the consequences of breaking down the roof. Their minds were made up; they were not ready to back down or succumb to defeat. So they broke the roof and inconvenienced those inside the house including Christ Himself. Dirts and debris fell on everyone. The sacrifice was too much. Their determination was too great.

Jesus Christ looked at them, and all He could see was their faith. Faith found the staircase. Faith climbed the roof. Faith tore the roof. Faith lowered down their paralyzed friend to the spot where Christ was. 

Faith finds ways of doing seemingly impossible things. Faith invents means and ways of accomplishing the incredible. Faith never succumbs to obstacles and frightening situations. Faith is capable of either climbing some mountains or removing other mountains in its path. Faith is NOT known for quitting.

The word 'impossible' does not exist in the dictionary or vocabulary of faith. Whatever is the cost of success, faith is ever ready to pay it. Faith always succeeds, whatever the cost is. You will succeed regardless of how costly it is.

What price are you paying to help your friends out? How far are you willing to go for the sake of those who are in need of your help? Be aware that doing good is very costly, but it is equally rewarding. Do good, and break the roof if you have to! Let men see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven! O yes, success at all costs!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter