ENDURANCE

How are we to endure this life of threats, hurts, failings, rejections, and eventually death? The saints of God, the Psalmists, lay these realities out these realities through their cries for mercy. These exemplars of our faith had demonstrated that endurance through suffering is inevitable and necessary (2 Corinthians 4:11-12):

·       [They] suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:36-38 (ESV)

How were they able to endure? By knowing that they were on a divine mission! How are we to endure?

·       Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…(Hebrews 12:1)

We are not alone. Many saints have trod this same path. They had fallen, but they had also gotten up (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). They serve as our examples and encouragement to persevere with our eyes on the prize, as had Jesus:

·       looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:2-3)

How was Jesus able to persevere? He looked beyond the pain and humiliation to the prize, to the heavenly “joy that was set before Him!” We are told that we must look to the endurance and faithfulness of both the Hebrew saints and of our Lord so that we might not despair.

The Bible warns us against taking our eyes away from the mission by growing weary of well-doing (Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13). Today, many are trying to live the virtuous life. Without faith, however, they will tire when they are not getting the emotional payoffs that they had expected. However, we are expected to persevere by keeping our eyes on the things Above (2 Corinthians 4:16-18), our heavenly and endless life of love.

We also must understand these hardships as necessary discipline. If we were preparing for the Olympics, our trusted trainer will drive us, even to the point of pain. Should we expect any less from our Lord:

·       And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (Hebrews 12:5-8)

No pain, no spiritual gain. Rather than regarding our suffering as an indication that something has gone wrong or that our Lord does not love us enough, it is an indication that He loves us as His own children. An undisciplined child goes astray.

If we want to be like Jesus, we must suffer like Him. Meanwhile, we also must realize that He suffers along with us (Hebrews 4:15-16). Understanding this gives us confidence that we are on the right path. Even the Apostle Paul had to undergo great and continuous suffering, which had equipped him for the mission (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Therefore, we must not despair of His discipline and its suffering:

·       For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

Often, we do not see this “peaceful fruit” born of pain through our Lord. However, we must trust our Savior, as we do a surgeon who removes our malignant tumor.

In this growing process, He also makes use of our obedience to heal us:

·       Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:12-13)

To forsake the mission is also to forsake healing and divine comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Rather, we must get to our feet and refocus on these truths of our Lord (Romans 12:2). If you think that I am also preaching to myself, you are correct.