To Finish Well
Hebrews 10:36-39
“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
I always find it interesting that at the beginning of the year, there is an influx of people who join the gym, hoping to get back in shape and achieve their New Years’ resolutions. For about three weeks, the gym is packed, and slowly, the numbers start to dwindle, until near the end of the month, things are back to “business as usual”. This isn't to lay a “heavy” on anyone, but a reality that we face in our culture. Everyone wants the “summer bod” without the work that goes with it. Everyone wants the benefits of eating healthy but doesn’t want to change their diet.
Changing your lifestyle takes discipline. Discipline, over time, creates change and propels us forward—teaches us endurance. Discipline creates endurance.
God Didn’t Say It Would Be Easy
Unfortunately, many have been given the Gospel of “give your life to Jesus and everything will be easy. Your life will get better if you’ll give your heart to Him!” While it is true that your life gets infinitely better with Jesus in it, better does not equal easy. Our lives are better because we no longer have to walk through life’s trials alone. The Word says we have a best friend, an Advocate, who is not unfamiliar with our human experience. Jesus was the forerunner in suffering, and he knows every trial, temptation, and situation we go through. God never said this life of faith would be easy, but He did promise to be with us!
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:10
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
We want the harvest without the plow. We want the muscle without the mountain. We want the glory without the suffering. But the suffering comes first! We will receive the prize that comes for enduring, but we have to have endurance first.
We have to have an eternal perspective.
We cannot allow our personal pain and trials to stop us from following Jesus with all of our hearts!
God Did Say It Would Be Worth It
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Thirteen years ago, I was coming home from a missions trip to the Philippines in May of 2013. My fiance and I were due to get married in July, and I was so excited to get home, after a powerful ministry trip, to finalize plans for the wedding. As we took off from Mindanao and we hit some of the worst turbulence I have ever experienced. (Yes, even worse than Denver, if you can believe it.)
I remember being so afraid, sitting in my seat praying in tongues. As funny as it sounds now, my prayer was, “God, please don’t let me die before I have a chance to marry Colton.”
I’m so glad the pilot didn’t react the way I did. He didn’t freak out and stop flying the plane. He knew where he was going because he could see out the windshield of the aircraft. He knew the plane would fly, even if it got a little bumpy. (Or a LOT bumpy.)
The trip was not unsuccessful, just because we hit turbulence. The wings of a plane are designed to bend—so they don’t break under the pressure of strong winds pressing against them!
Colossians 3:23-24
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
We work for the Lord not for men. Inheritance is a family term! Jesus took our son and shame and died in our place, went into the grave, and now we have an inheritance. Three days later he rose from the grave! We not only inherit his glory and we get Him too! What is to come is worth your suffering. You are laying up treasures in heaven.
Your Endurance Impacts Others
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deedsand glorify your Father in heaven.
Your faithfulness through suffering points others to Jesus. Are the people around you worth it?
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus looked forward to all the people who would eventually know Him, for you and I, and he said “It’s worth it.” All the pain and suffering, being beaten beyond recognition, having the nails driven into his hands and feet, the betrayal from all of his disciples abandoning him: it was all worth it because it paid the price for our redemption. For the vision set before him, he endured!
Often, when we lose endurance, we lose the vision. Don’t lose your vision in favor of comfort. Discomfort brings about change. And God gets all the glory!
