One of my favorite movies of all time is The Godfather. One of my favorite sitcoms from the old days is Barney Miller. The common denominator in these two is Abe Vigoda. Abe Vigoda has been playing an old man longer than he’s actually been one; he was only in his early 50′s when he played the soon-to-retire Sergeant Fish.
In 1982, People Magazine reported that he was dead. In 1987 a news reporter referred to him as “the late Abe Vigoda.” Vigoda took the false reports in stride. It has become a running joke, and Abe often takes part in it on shows such as Conan OBrian and David Letterman. There’s even a website, AbeVigoda.com, that lists his current status as dead or alive.
In spite of the fact that many people think he’s passed on, Abe Vigoda just keeps going. He’s 88 now, and he’s still working.
When Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, there were many who said that Nehemiah was the wrong leader and that his ambitious project was doomed from the start, but Nehemiah kept working.
Paul’s critics misrepresented his doctrine and celebrated his incarceration, and yet Paul kept on preaching, kept on writing letters, kept on serving churches.
From time to time there might be one or two who are ready to pronounce you, or your ideas, or your ministry, dead on arrival. There’s only one way to prove them wrong. Take it in stride. Keep showing up. Keep plugging away. When you get knocked down, get back up. It’s not what anyone says that matters, or even what they think that matters. It only matters what you do.
We need to remember the words of Paul: Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)
