Endurance

It seems that everywhere you look these days, it’s politics, politics, politics.  The more you listen, the more negative it gets; often downright nasty!  And you might be thinking to yourself that it’s never been this bad before…has it?  Where we’ve moved beyond simple disagreement to outright hatred of those with ideas differing from ours…often even in the name of religion!
Jesus warns us about the toxic atmosphere we find ourselves in now.  He said:

“Many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”  Matt. 24:10-13

Does that sound like the nightly news to you?  But Jesus doesn’t leave it at the doom and gloom.  He gives us hope!  “The one who endures…will be saved.”  But with such overwhelming negativity everywhere, how can we do that?  Peter, nearing the end of his life and having endured quite a lot of persecution has this advice for his fellow believers on how to endure:

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 

“The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 

“So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.”  II Peter 1:3-10

So if you are feeling bogged down by the 24/7 onslaught of negativity, or if you’re struggling with something else all together, hang on to Jesus.  Don’t be overwhelmed, but overcome with His help!  After all, His promise to every one of us is “I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.” (Heb. 13:5, Deut. 31:6, 8). 
How great a Master we serve!

Encounter: How has Jesus been there for you this week?