Endurance In The Midst Of Trails

Endurance. When reading the Old Testament we watch as God endures through all the mistakes the Israelites made. He provides solutions and saves them over and over again. But the endurance of the Israelites was always short-lived. They always fell back into their old sins, married into nations close to them, and worshiped false gods. They would be captured, they would cry out to God, God would hear them and save them, they would be set free, then after a short period of following their faith in Him, they would return to their old sinful ways. Why was it so hard for the Israelites to stay faithful to God? Why is it so hard for us to stay faithful towards God?

Endurance. When reading the New Testament,  we watch as Jesus shows great endurance towards His disciples, towards the Pharisees, and towards the ill and demon-possessed. He endures in His teachings and His words never fail. Even to the point of death, Jesus stayed faithful to His Father. His disciples all fled, betrayed, or denied Him. They could not stay faithful in Jesus's persecution, but Jesus did not let them stay this way.  

Endurance. Jesus came back! He came back to His disciples who were in the midst of returning to their old life. He rocked their boat by showing up once again, and this time to change them for good. To make them on fire for His word. He left and the Holy Spirit was placed in their hearts. They went out and preached the good news of Christ in the midst of great persecution and death. They continued spreading the word as they were persecuted knowing that in the end, the good news was spreading far and wide. People from every nation were hearing of Christ and His life and ministry were set on fire as Christians became martyrs. Endurance.

Endurance. As Christians today, we continue to share the message. We watch as family and friends turn their backs on us because of what we believe. We listen as the social media screams out for our blood because we don't agree with the world's sinful views on life as it should be. We don't accept the status quo and live as if we were a part of the world, making everyone who is of the world, hate our guts. But we endure why? Because greater is the one living inside of us than he who is living in the world. We persevere why? Because greater love is this, that He laid down His life for His friends. We continue to go because Jesus Christ, God's Son, cannot and will not die in vain. That is why.