Persevere

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” –Matthew 24:9-14 (ESV). “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” –John 8:31-32 (ESV).

The verses quoted above from Matthew are from Jesus’ discourse on end times, or, to use a theological term, teachings on eschatology. In this teaching, Jesus was preparing his disciples for hard times ahead. A study of church history reveals how believers were persecuted, scattered, imprisoned for their faith, burned at the stake, killed before crowds, thrown to the lions. Those in charge of trying to quell the spread of the gospel spared no cruel means to try to bring to death those who taught and practiced the teachings of Jesus Christ. Persecution was not just for the early church. It has continued through the ages, is happening now in areas of the world, and can be expected to continue. Jesus teaches perseverance: “The one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Jesus warned, too, that “many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” Today there are false teachers who appear to have the truth but who lead many astray. We can hear them from “religious” television programs. We can read their false doctrines in easily-available books. By many means they seek to spread good-sounding but false teachings. Each age has had them. Jesus had a strong word about dealing with false doctrine and cunning teachers who would lead believers astray. He gave us a solution and it is up to us to follow: “If you abide inMy word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). Studying the Bible diligently and following its teachings are the keys to truly being free. Persecution may come; in the world there will be trouble and tribulation. We learn of courage and perseverance from reading such accounts as given in Fox’s Book of Martyrs. Persons who truly hold to the Word and do not recant are stalwart in their faith even when facing death.

Paul, who wrote the letter to the Ephesians from prison, gave some excellent advice about persevering, keeping on in the faith: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, withwhich you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplicationl. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:16-18, ESV). Study, watch, pray, live right, and be faithful; these are the keys to perseverance.