My own two sons are now young men, but as a mom I had to smile
as I visited with a friend recently. Her three-year-old son, Daniel, not happy to have to sit on the toilet,
asked the timeless question, "Do I have to persevere, Mommy?"
What a humorous picture! But what a wonderful thing to see this young mom training
her son in this Godly attribute at such an early age.
Webster's New World Dictionary defines persevere: "to continue a course
of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, etc." It carries with it the idea of persisting and enduring in the face
of discouragement, testings, trials, and fatigue.
My husband, Matt, once said, "The only way we loose is to stop." This statement
is so true; our hope and our victory in Christ are sure if we only continue the course to the end. And yet discouragement
seems to be one of our greatest enemies in the Kingdom of God.
Unfortunately, the Church has often portrayed life in the Kingdom differently than
Christ did. He did not water it down or make it appear rosy; He got right to the point: "Whoever does not
persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, wishing to build
a farm building, does not first sit down and calculate the cost [to see] whether he has sufficient means to finish it?
Otherwise, when he has laid the foundation and is unable to complete [the building], all who see it will begin to mock and
jeer at him..." (Luke 14:27-29)
Are we honest with ourselves and each other? Have we really figured the cost
of following Christ, each and every step, every day? It is the most expensive walk you will ever take; it will cost
everything, up to your very thoughts and intentions. We must be willing to lay down all desires, all control, all of
our will and be shaped into the very image of Christ, Himself.
After determining that this is indeed the path you have chosen, the worst thing you
can do is to look back - doubting or wondering if you made the right choice. "Jesus said to him, 'No one who
puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) Instead, "Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that
are on the earth." (Col. 3:2)
But what about joy? Does it always have to be hard? Oh, there is plenty
of joy, but sometimes it is a matter of taking our eyes off of the obvious, nagging problems around us and putting them on
the life in the Spirit. Romans 5:2 says that because of our faith, "Christ has brought us into this place of highest
privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory." Verses
3-4 go on to say, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for
us - they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our
confident expectation of salvation....which will not disappoint us."
So the very thing - the very trial - which may be discouraging
us, should in fact encourage us because it is developing Christ's character in us! No wonder James declared that our
trouble is an opportunity for joy! "For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character
and ready for anything." (James 1:2-4)
So, first, know what the goal is: to love God with your whole heart, mind, soul,
and strength, and your neighbors as yourself; and in this to reveal the glory of Christ and make His wisdom known to the corners
of the universe.
Second, know the cost - your very life for His.
Third, set your sights on the joy of this goal, determining that no matter what
it looks like, feels like, or seems like in and around you, you will not give up on the prize.
Fourth, rejoice! He will be with you through the fire and the flood!
There is no place His love cannot reach you! There is nothing impossible to your God, so you are never without
help or encouragement.
In the infinitely important days and years ahead, we want to be ready. There
is a lot of debate about when the church will leave this earth, but our main concern should be to get ready no matter where
we will be. And one of the most important ingredients of being ready is to persevere now - stand firm in the truth of
Christ in you, and walk forward in the understanding and peace of the Spirit.
"This is a true saying:
If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.
If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him." (II Tim. 2:11-12a)
Amy
