I have come to realize recently how essential perseverance
is in the Christ-follower’s life. I mean, I gave lip service to the notion of
endurance and steadfastness. I knew verses like Hebrews 12:1-2 that speak to
all this. It was just that maybe I
hadn’t really experienced a real need to persevere. Now I realize that there’s
no genuine faith without it. That everyone who presumes to walk with Christ
will be called upon to exercise perseverance to varying degrees throughout
their lives.
No exceptions.
In fact, our salvation depends upon it. Twice in Matthew’s
gospel Jesus says, “The person who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22;
24:13). Perseverance does not earn
our salvation, but it is evidence of the genuineness of it.
As we close out our series in Nehemiah this Sunday, we’ll see
that perseverance is the final characteristic of the loving, believing
community. As the Jews continue to
re-establish themselves as God’s people, binding themselves to each other and
to their God in worship, they face this final test of their community…will they
remain steadfast, enduring or persevering through any and all circumstances?
It all makes sense, of course, when we realize that life is
not always a party. Real life is filled with challenges and obstacles and
trials and difficulties. All of which are part of God’s plan to refine us,
bring us to maturity, and push us further into his loving arms in faith-filled
dependency.
What I’m saying is that it is easy to persevere as a believer
when things are going well, but I’m sure we can agree that too often, things
simply do not go well. This is an essential message for us to hear. The followers
of Christ must endure trials, persevering day by day, and demonstrating an
unwavering faithfulness to God in all circumstances.
That’s what we’ll be looking at in
Nehemiah 13 on Sunday. To
prepare for our time together, check out the passage,
listen to the great worship songs that we’ll be singing together and pray for your own response to
the preaching of the Word of God.
See you then.
Todd