Endurance | God Blog

Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.
- William Barclay

Endurance

The In a word, endurance is hard. By its very definition endurance implies strenuous effort and difficulty. For the Christian, endurance is indicative of the presence and resistance of an Enemy and a battle against sin raging above, around and within.

Endurance also suggest a prize worth fighting for! For faithful soldiers of Christ the reward is everything imaginable and more! "Eye has not seen, ears have not heard nor has it entered into the mind of men what God had prepared for those who love Him."

You need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised.

- Hebrews 10:36 TLB

Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, rightly noted:

Life is a hard fight, a struggle, a wrestling with the principal of evil, hand to hand, foot to foot. Every inch of the way is disputed. The night is given us to take breath, to pray, to drink deep at the fountain of power. The day, to use the strength which has been given us, to go forth to work with it till the evening.

The Bible reveals an epic spiritual battle raging across Three Heavens. A cosmic war, soon to climax with Satan and his fallen cohorts expelled from Heaven to Earth!

Catholicism is certainly right in describing the role of the Church on Earth as militant. Christ's first century warning "he that endures till the end will be saved" is applicable today as ever. Even now Scripture places Satan, leader of a glorious fallen angelic army, in the Supreme Court of Heaven where as Prosecutor or Devil, he accuses mankind and the church "day and night." The Bible's final Book of Revelation, an even more amazing describes an even more amazing about to unfold. The greatest Trial in eternity breaking out into full scale conflict! Heaven rejoices as Michael, the Archangel of War, and his angels overcomes Satan and his rebels, expelling them out of Heaven once and for all. Unfortunately for mankind, the furious Dragon and his army will soon be cast to Earth!

As a result horrible and great planetary tribulation escalates, reeking havoc on all of humanity and convulsing Earth itself. Just prior to Revelation's mid tribulation rapture description of a gold crowned Christ's appearing in the clouds to harvest the Earth Christians are warned:

"This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Revelation 12:12-13

Church Militant

Whether fighting the ultimate spiritual battle or day to day skirmishes we should be armed and prepared. With life here and in eternity at risk, the stakes couldn't be higher. On the path of seeking and serving God we are not alone. Causalities and victims, captives and wounded cover the Earth. Approaching God means to see past the facade, through the matrix and join Him in seeking and saving the lost. We're told He's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, truth and salvation. But where is His army? Sadly, their is little difference anymore between the average Christian and those we are commissioned to save and disciple.

The world is waiting for the Church of God to become militant again. As in the wonderful words of the old hymn, it's time to "Rise Up O Men Of God"

Rise up O men of God, Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and soul and mind and strength,
To serve the King of Kings, To serve the King of Kings.

Rise up O men of God, His Kingdom tarries long,
Bring in the day of brotherhood,
And end the night of wrong, And end the night of wrong.

Rise up O men of God, The Church for you doth wait.
Send forth to serve the needs of men.
In Christ our strength is great, In Christ our strength is great.

Lift high the Cross of Christ, Tread where His feet have trod,
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up O men of God, Rise up O men of God.

Rise up O men of God, Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and soul and mind and strength,
To serve the King of Kings, To serve the King of Kings.

Isn't high time for Men of God to arise and face the Enemy, donning the full armor of God? Let those wounded from past engagements seek the Lord anew that He might renew our strength and we may run into the heat of the battle:

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." Ephesians 6:10-18

We've come too far to give up now. There's too much at stake. Think of the faces of family and friends depending on you! Think of the shame of cowardice and betrayal should we fail to even try. Let us press into God through prayer and service. Think of the glory awaiting faithful soldiers, like that offered to Laodicea, by far the worst of Revelation's seven churches ages:

"Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. “Anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:21-22

It's time to "encourage the faint hearted" and "spur one another on to love and good deeds." For eternity's sake, let us press on to receive the unparalleled heavenly prize before us:

"So don't throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." Hebrews 10:35-39

More information

In the Red Dropdown Icon you'll find resources that we hope will both stimulate and facilitate your pursuit of and understanding of the God of the Bible. To get started simply place your cursor on a category of interest and see where it leads. You can also join the discussion in a variety of ways including posting comments to God Blogs as well as making comments or asking questions by email or text.