Perseverance

By GFI board member, Randy Stahmer

Somehow we “persevere” through failed relationships, snarled traffic, long lines at the grocery store and even repeated losing seasons by our favorite college football team.  Sure we can hire a new coach, play games on our phones to pass time, honk our horns in frustration, get divorced and remarry.  These are examples of problems we all face every day and our general, human attempt to solve them.  But do they truly require perseverance?  What would we do if our lives were truly on the line?

From the Book of Revelation, we know of the seven churches.  These are the earliest of the first century Christian churches.  In Ephesus, “I know your deeds, hard work, and your perseverance.  You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary”.  In Smyrna, “I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich (in Christ).  Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life”.  In Pergamum, “I know where you live – where Satan has his throne.  Yet you remain true to my name”.  In Thyatira, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance”.  In Sardis, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up!  You have a few people that have not soiled their clothes.  They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy”.  In Philadelphia, “I know your deeds.  I know you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name”.  In Laodicea, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest, and repent.  To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne”.

From this, we learn that God knows all of our deeds and He knows all (i.e. omniscient) throughout the history of mankind.  Throughout the history of mankind, men have existed in a fallen and broken state.  Throughout history, men are faced with decisions to acknowledge God or to deny Him.  Folks we are living in the Laodicean church age.  In this age and in these United States, we have not faced true persecution for our faith.  But since the Bible is true, I believe that persecutions are coming for faith in Jesus.  We must not deny Christ.  We must endure.  We must be strong in faith.  We must call on Him in prayer.  We must resist evil.  We must forgive those who persecute us.  We must persevere.

Many are inspired by the stories of endurance and perseverance.  Corrie Ten Boom especially personifies perseverance in my mind.  Corrie lived during World War II and her native country of Holland was under attack by Hitler and the evil Nazi Army in 1940.  She and her family were devout Christians and were arrested for aiding the Jewish people in February 1944.  As prisoners, many were treated inhumanly and suffered greatly and died for their faith.  Corrie’s father died 10 days after arrest and her sister, Betsie, died at Ravensbrück concentration camp in December 1944.  Ravensbrück was a women’s labor camp located in Germany.  While there, Corrie and her sister organized worship services using a bible they had smuggled in.  Through the two sisters’ teachings and examples of unfailing charity; many prisoners were converted to Christianity.  Corrie was released shortly following her sisters’ death and returned back to Holland.  Corrie struggled, but by the example of Jesus, she was able to endure and persevere throughout the horrors of Nazi Germany and to forgive her oppressors.

James 1 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”.

Jesus himself was persecuted and persevered.  He is our greatest example and our atoning sacrifice.  He was obedient unto death.  He endured the cross and He lives so that we too may live.  He is seated at the right hand of His father to judge the living and the dead.  With God, we can find peace.  With God, we can have confidence to approach the throne.  With God, we can find forgiveness for our sin.  With God, we can forgive those who persecute us.  With God, we can find hope.  With God, we can persevere!  Thanks be to God, for His boundless mercy and grace on our lives and for His hand over us as we face trials of many kinds in the days to come.