What is it to persevere?
As we read through the scriptures we recognize those who had to persevere under many forms of attack. Have you had to stand your ground and persevere against those who would persecute you for your faith?
I’m not going to hope that you haven’t or that you never go through those trials, because it is through those circumstances that our faith is strengthened and proved. Though…I must say that since perseverance may take patience …it is not an easy route on our spiritual journey.
Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” (NIV) That sure takes on a different look when we add “when you have done the will of God” to our promise expectations. Like a child in a candy store, we may look up with puppy dog eyes, with our hands outstretched and our hopes high to receive what we do not deserve. Gods promises do not correlate with what we want or deserve it depends on God’s will alone. By keeping on and continuing to trust Him through the tough spots in our lives we build a foundation of perseverance that adds to our courage, dignity and wisdom.
What has patience got to do with persevering? Try to push on, stick with it…be persistent without patience. Be patient in persevering.
How can we expect to reap the promises of God? Why must we keep pushing up against the ‘brick walls’ – those who won’t accept us the way we are; Why are some of His promises so hard to receive?
Let’s look at a few of his promises and check out what is expected of us in order to receive them.
1. If we confess the Lord Jesus with our mouth and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead… THEN we will be saved. (Read Romans 10:9) Do you see the promise…do you see the stipulation? God doesn’t save everyone though He desires to do so; it takes a simple act of faith. What then is faith? Going back to Hebrews; chapter 11 verse 1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (KJV) Whatever version of the Bible you are reading, one thing is clear – faith is not what we see but how we respond to the hope in us that is not tangible. We can’t see it, hold it, smell it or hear it. It is felt however…in the heart.
2. God is merciful and seeks to forgive everyone. (Read Psalm 86:5) …there is a stipulation, though it seems so, so easy…to receive his mercy – call on him. The New American Standard says it this way – “For Thou Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in loving kindness to all who call upon Thee.” Don’t you just love that!? Our God is good and sitting ready to forgive us. His loving kindness is abundant! So what are we waiting for…call on The Lord …He’s waiting. The promise? – mercy. The expectation from us to God? – call on Him.
3. Back to salvation. We know what John 3:16 says but bears repeating. “For God so love the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Ahhhh…don’t you just love the perfect love God has for us? The promise again is salvation, everlasting life and the act on our part is believing in the Son, Jesus. That takes faith; a faith that can only come from God because it is not real to us any other way.
I could go on with one example after another as to how to receive the promises of God. In short, let me say that it simply means complying with His word which he expresses with love in order to bless us. Easy…well, maybe not.
There are times when we find it very hard to fulfill the expectations set on us because we are believers in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of mankind. The world sees us as a bunch of kooks carrying Bibles and singing songs about a cross where a man was murdered…we call him Savior. Our closest friends and some of our family don’t recognize the one in their midst that set out to the beat of their own drum; actually it’s not our own drum beat and cadence it’s the calling voice of the Lord our God that we march to, but ‘they’ do not understand that. Our co-workers hate to see us coming because we are probably whistling or humming or just wearing a smile on our face that represents a peace they are unfamiliar with. What? They don’t see that in you? They should. ‘They’ really should, though it would be unrealistic to be that gleeful all the time. Chances are you have had many opportunities to show your family, co-workers, neighbors etc., the joy you are promised. Your perseverance through a tough day at work, or dealing with an illness or stifling the haunting doubts that Satan attacks you with is what will strengthen you through those repeating disappointments or even your fears.
What is it to persevere?
I cannot compare my trials with that of Hannah in the Old Testament or the Apostle Paul of the New Testament. I cannot compare my trials with a mom of today who has had to bury a child; I cannot compare my trials with a government official who has the weight of the country on their shoulders; however, I count my trials a very serious piece of my spiritual growth.
Let me ask you: if you are going through a rough time in your life…right now, this day – what would happen if you just gave up…threw in the towel? Would it relieve the pain? Would life be easier…would you be doing the right thing?
If you stick with it will it be painful? If you hang in there, will it mean delay or disappointment or more hurt? If you don’t give up will you have to stand alone? What do you gain by giving up? Will you have peace of mind if you give in instead of persevering? Is it the right thing to do? More importantly for both sides of issue…would it glorify God?
Instead of being antagonized by the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus could have just walked away; He could have decided that the ridicule and constant mental traps weren’t worth it. He could have gone home instead of going to the cross; After all, few really appreciated what he was doing for them. He was both loved and laughed at; He was cherished and hated; He was mocked and abused while at the same time followed by scores who wanted a relationship with him. If anyone had a sound cause to give up, it would be Jesus but He persevered. BUT…He is God! Is that what you are thinking; sure it would be easier for him; he can do anything and everything?
I’m sure you have heard this before, especially if you have taken the time to read the Bible, however, though we are not God we do have access to all of His strengths, wisdom, patience and love. Everything that we need to persevere He promises to give in order to work through our own tribulations.
Perseverance is keeping on when the road is a rough one. When you feel as if you are going it alone and you are weary of the travel; you may not even know what direction to go in next. Perseverance is a determination. You may not see an end but why would you persevere if you expect the worse or see no positive end to the circumstance? When you persevere in your Christian walk, for His glory and your own growth you have already set the goal. It is an achievable goal when God is in it.
God’s word tells us that when we make a conscious decision to follow Christ we will be ridiculed, persecuted and even hated. The Word also tells us we will receive direction, strength, love, joy, patience, wisdom and armor to see us through the ridicule, persecution and hate.
Don’t give up on a situation that God has allowed in your life. Because He has allowed it he will deliver you through it once His will has been accomplished.
Feeling tired? Do you feel you are in a fight that seems impossible to win? Rest in the arms of our God. “The eternal God is a dwelling place (refuge); and underneath are the everlasting arms…” Deuteronomy 33:27a
He is our eternal God…our hiding place and he holds us in his everlasting arms …keep on keeping on, God will hold you through it all.
|