Endurance It’s not enough to have all the tools, resources, and energy for getting there, accomplishing the objective, or winning a victory. To get across the finish line, endurance is required that presses past any adversity, obstacles, or setbacks. Though it may seem like too much time has passed and it is impossible to keep going, the triumph may be just over the next hilltop. Far too many incredible opportunities are missed for a lack of endurance – people quitting when success was just within reach. Engaging this required tenacity requires moving the focus off of objectionable circumstances to the promised reward beyond them. The greatest prizes often come after the greatest endurance in challenging situations. Though we’ve risen together with Christ to walk in newness of life, there is no assurance that the walk will be an easy one. Instead, we’re assured that there will be great adversity along the path that will require much endurance on our part. As we’ve risen with Him and been given power by the Spirit, so our strength to endure will come from Him as well by shifting the focus from the trials to the One who has triumphed over them with joy. On the other side, we have a promise of reward that is most effective as a diversion from otherwise unbearable circumstances. Like Jesus’ endurance of the cross, setting the joy of a completed purpose as a focus will be a powerful inspiration to hold on and not give up. The rejection, failure, temptation, accusations, and pain threatening our completed walk with Him will be rendered ineffective as we press on to the songs of deliverance He sings over us. Notes Raised to Walk Romans 6:4 (NKJV) 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Jesus’ promise – trials, but not alone John 16:32-33 (NLT) 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Giving up too soon A man met a guru in the road. The man asked the guru - ‘Which way should I go to achieve success?’ The robed, bearded sage said nothing, but he pointed to a place in the distance. The man, thrilled by the prospect of quick and easy success, rushed in the appropriate direction. Suddenly, there came a loud ‘Splat.’ Soon, the man limped back, tattered and stunned, assuming he must have misinterpreted the message. He repeated his question to the guru. ‘Which way should I go to achieve success?’ The guru again pointed silently in the same direction. The man obediently walked off once more. This time the ‘splat’ was deafening. When the man crawled back, he was bloody, broken, tattered, and irate. ‘I asked you which way I should go to achieve success,’ he screamed at the guru. 'I followed the direction you gave me, and all I got was splatted! No more of this pointing! Talk!' Only then did the guru speak. What he said was: ‘Success is that way. Just a little past splat.’ Darby and his uncle, who toiled and drilled for weeks upon weeks to discover a vein of gold in Colorado only to have it run out after the first quick return. The Darbys then quit and sold their mining equipment to a junk man for a few hundred dollars. Some “junk men” are dumb, but not this one. He called in a mining engineer to look at the mine and do a little calculating. . . . His calculations showed that the vein would be found JUST THREE FEET FROM WHERE THE DARBYS HAD STOPPED DRILLING! That junk man became a millionaire, and Darby (who later became a millionaire in the insurance industry by never quitting again) learned the lesson of a lifetime, which resonates for us today. By beholding glory – able to endure for the unseen 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 4:1 (NLT) 1 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT) 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. Endure by looking at Jesus/setting joy Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT) 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Opportunity for joy James 1:2-4 (NLT) 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Endurance through thankfulness for inheritance Colossians 1:11-12 (NLT) 11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. Endurance for soon-coming reward Hebrews 10:35-39 (NLT) 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. 37 “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. 38 And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” 39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. Overview: We have risen from spiritual death with Christ to walk in newness of life. Our walk has a kingdom purpose that will be threatened with trials and temptations. Though we have power and authority through our union with Christ, there is a need for endurance to remain standing and unmoved all the way to our destination. When we rose with Him, we were also given the way to focus on unseen things that will last forever. Now that seen things/circumstances/trials are understood to be temporary, we don’t give up because of them. By following Jesus’ example, we are strengthened with joy by adjusting our focus and growing in endurance. Gratitude for a joint inheritance with God’s people in light also provides much-needed endurance. Awareness of our soon-coming King takes the focus off any perceived delays with a desire to draw closer and despise any giving up and turning away from completing God’s will. Prayer: Father, as I grow in this new life You’ve given me in Christ, draw me ever closer in beholding Your glory and the way You’ve provided for me to endure any challenges to my belief in You. Let the reward of You and my inheritance with Your body cause any trials to be only opportunities for joy in Your victory. Declarations: I have risen with Christ from spiritual death to walk in a new life that continues way beyond this temporary earthly one. The veil is removed from my eyes to behold the glory of God, which is so much more significant than any temporary earthly difficulty. Every trial I encounter is now a joyful opportunity to grow in faith and become complete, wanting nothing. My response to difficulties is a grateful joy that I have an eternal inheritance with the saints in light. With the passing of time and the experience of trials, I only draw closer to my soon-coming King with renewed endurance and joyful anticipation.