Bulletin Article Archive, December 20, 2009 

CHRISTIANS AND PERSEVERANCE

Neil Richey

I recently read the following quote found on the walls of a large university: "On the plains of hesitation lie the blackened bones of countless millions, who, at the dawn of victory, sat down to rest, and resting, died."

Sad, but true, this describes the lives of many Christians who no longer persevere. You see, my Christian friends, we are at the "dawn of victory." We are not talking about just any victory, but the ultimate victory found on the other side of the "gates of pearl." John described it this way, "And I . . . saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband' (Rev. 21:2). Paul was at the "dawn of victory," and said, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness..." (2 Tim, 4:8). Yet, that victory is only for those who will faithfully persevere. Paul said, "I press toward the mark..." (Phil. 3:14); "Fight the good fight of faith..." (I Tim. 6:12); and "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7).

When the Lord comes in judgment, there will be many precious souls lost, because they "sat down to rest." A man by the name of Jim Reeves recorded a song about a man and his horse caught in a blizzard as they headed for home. The horse wanted to stop, but the man knew that if they did it would be death for them both. The man finally gave, in to his tired horse, so they stopped to rest, just a hundred yards from home. Later, the man and his horse were found frozen to death. How many times do we stop to take a rest from things spiritually important, when we are so close to eternity?

The way a man lives here will determine where a man lives hereafter. God expects us to endure, persevere, unto the end. John wrote, "...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). Jesus said, "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved' (Mark 13:13). May God help us so live here, that we may live with Him in the hereafter.  

     "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Heb. 12:1-3).

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