Perseverance
Perseverance means various things to different people at different stages of their lives. Let's rethink some of the situations we encountered where we demonstrated tenacious determination before we discuss biblical characters that displayed exceptional perseverance.
What does the term “overcoming personal battles through perseverance” bring to mind? Perhaps you've been lucky and haven’t had to endure a lot of life’s common trials and tribulations. If so, “persevering or perseverance” might not resonate much with you? If that was true in your case, wouldn't you be a rare individual? One remarkably blessed by God.
Most of us, from time to time, have had to overcome extensive strife and troubles. In that case, reflections of your past perseverance should have significant, positive meanings to you—in spite of the hardships.
So, let's identify and discuss the types of afflictions or events common to many people that they had to work through.
Certainly, any pregnant woman has had to endure all sorts of discomfort and difficulties in the last trimester, or maybe even in the last two trimesters. I can't begin to imagine the pain of childbirth. Then there are those that had to face many types of abuse at home while growing up. Maybe one spouse or the other had struggles with alcohol? One parent might have been too hard to please or always responding with browbeatings and undeserved criticisms.
Sometimes, as early as the first week of kindergarten, there were traumatic events, even though they were interspersed with naps, milk, and cookies. Was middle school and high school a breeze or were you not accepted by the “cool” crowd or even experienced downright taunting or personal, physical bullying? Even the freedom of going off to college produced its own stressful elements, like financial concerns, being stuck in a dorm with strangers, or the necessity of acquiring and holding a part-time job.
And, 'Oh my gosh,' what about the anxieties associated with dating? Do I look good in this or that? Can I trust this guy? After all, I barely know him? Will she say “no” to my face if I ask her out? Worse, will she tell all her friends and they all could laugh at me? Do I have enough cash in my jeans to go out on a really fun date?
For those who immediately left high school and attempted to enter the workforce, were there apprehensions about job interviews and the strain of having people judge you whether they really knew you or not? Far worse than that would be situations of no job, no money, no home.
Even after that “special person” came along, then there could be troubling thoughts about what your parents might think of you as a couple. Or did you worry, “are we rushing into this marriage or would a longer engagement be better?” Did you experience a terrifying moment like—“Oh no! We can't wait, I'm pregnant! Or she's pregnant!"
Did you ever buckle under and harm yourself by taking illegal drugs or abusing alcohol? Some fight forever to escape the clutches of this life's destroying substances. But those who do not persevere—pay a high cost.
No matter which of the above might have interfered with your life, the mere fact that you are reading this now proves you have held on and worked your way out of those desperate conditions. Regardless of life’s circumstances, we must all learn how to persevere in our faith of our Lord and help those who are suffering in similar circumstances or symptoms.
The Bible isn’t silent on this topic either. There are numerous scriptures on perseverance to guide us over our own personal potholes. Kings and common people described in the Holy Bible had similar or worse circumstances to conquer or at least control. Which Biblical personality do you believe exemplifies “perseverance” best?
Often the first “common character” that comes to mind is Job. His enduring tale is an example of extreme distress and sorrow. Yet through it all, Job stayed faithful and true to God.
I know you've read Job's story, most likely more than once, but let's review the highlights.
Job was a blameless, upright and faithful servant of God. Satan wanted to prove to God Almighty that he could break Job's will. So he asked permission to torture Job. God allowed it with only a few restrictions; the devil could not take Job’s life, nor was he not allowed to touch Job’s person in any way. However, everything else that belonged to Job, God placed in Satan’s hand to do as he desired.
In the course of a day, Job was told by various servants that all his possessions were taken by thieves. Worse than that, all his livestock had been stolen or killed. That was no small thing for his livestock was recorded as: 7,000 sheep, a thousand for each of his sons, three thousand camels–also one thousand for each of his daughters, five hundred she-asses for his wife, and five hundred yoke of oxen for himself. Note: She-asses were preferred over he-asses as each served the same uses of carrying burdens, riding, and performing other types of labor, but the female donkeys gave milk and, of course, gave birth to little donkey foals.
As if all that wasn't enough to break Job's will, the devil did more dirty work, so another messenger arrived to deliver his mournful message. “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Despite all that, even through the tears of his sorrows, Job still praised God.
Job was next stricken with skin sores causing terrible pains. Yet, he persevered and praised God. In his grieving and maladies, Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came to visit and counsel him. All three believed Job had done something to deserve this punishment from God. Disregarding the terrible advice they offered, Job still praised God.
Job began to question just how a just God could allow such terrible things to happen to him, a faithful servant. Soon his praises morphed and turned into questions scorched by angry bitterness.
Eventually, God intervened and implored Job to be brave. Realizing the power of God and submitting to it, Job accepted his own shortcomings as a human and faithfully acquiesced to God's will. After Job had prayed for his friends (Job 42:10) only then did God bestow mercy on Job and restore his health, wealth, and give him back twice as much, or more, than he had previously, more children and a long prosperous life.
Job’s story is the ultimate test of faith and an example of perseverance in the Bible. Even in the darkest times, through death and turmoil, questions of faith and God, Job was faithful and trusted in God’s plan. Thus, Job modeled the patience we should show, and his life serves as an illustration of the reward we await. While he lived another 140 more years, his children were not doubled for him. Yet he lived to see his sons, and his sons’ sons. So in effect, his children’s children more than doubled the seven sons and three daughters Job originally lost.
As Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18: “Consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” By showing the same faith as Job, we can be assured that God’s plan is bigger and better than we can ever know.
Yes, we can see that Job persevered through an unbelievable amount of persecution in a short time period. But which notable Bible figure persevered for a much longer time? Maybe more than anyone else?
I offer the trials of Noah for your consideration. Among all the Old Testament people, one of your favorites reflecting unimaginable perseverance should be Noah. That’s because he embodies what perseverance should look like and accomplish.
We all know the aches and pains felt at various stages of our lives. Certainly, we are not as spry as we were in the energetic days of our youth. For a moment, picture yourself as Noah. Born in 2913 BC, he was already 480 years old when God told him to undertake a monumental task. Noah was instructed to build an ark to excruciating details, and gather up male and female specimens of every animal species in the world.
The ark was that era's largest seagoing ship. It held that title until around the early 1800s! It displaced approximately 22,000 tons of water, with more than 100,000 square feet of deck and cargo space. Because it was built on a 1-to-6 ratio, 50 cubits to 300 cubits, modern ship building architects believe it would be very stable as an ocean-going vessel and nigh impossible to keel over!
The story of Noah is one of hope during a time of extraordinary corruption when God decided to cleanse the world of all wicked humanity. The human race had become so ungodly that God saw it best to wipe all the wickedness out. Among such wickedness, God saw that Noah was living a righteous life. So much so, Genesis 6:9 says, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God.” Assuredly, Noah was taught godly principles as a child since his ancestors were Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch, Seth, and Adam. To continue such a great legacy, he would have walked in the ways of the Lord. Which he pretty much did—except for a recorded bout of drunkenness after the flood.
Although the Bible is silent on the exact timing of building the ark, different biblical scholars have calculated a variety of formulas. but Genesis 7:6 and 7:11 both say the yearlong flood began when Noah was 600 years old. So, 120 years would seem reasonable if Noah heard God's command at 480 years-old, raised his son to the age of marrying, while building and stocking the ark before gathering and loading the animals.
Oh my gosh! What did the neighbors think, what with crazy old Noah building that huge ship out in the middle of Mesopotamia, a part of what is now known as the Middle East, associated with land in modern-day Iraq?
So, who among us thinks Noah's perseverance was easy to endure? Try to understand how you would react to your whole community mocking you for 100 years for building a boat? And any deluge of flood-raising rain never appeared. Would you have been able to fulfill God's tasking? Do you diligently do the things God wants you to do now? If not, why not? Under any considerations, our lives are far better than Noah's and our tasks are less demanding. Our faith, obedience, and persistence should be enhanced because of the better things God has provided for us, far beyond what he gave Noah.
The Hebrew 11 offers an extensive list of Old Testament people who lived by faith, which also meant they persevered; Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau Joseph. By faith and perseverance, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born. Moses escaped persecution for murder. He resisted God's command to be a leader, but once he began serving the Lord, he pressed ahead. God's power parted the red sea, and the newly liberated slaves, though not always faithful, carried on for forty years in the desert.
Moving into the era of the New Testament heroes showing courage and conviction, none came close to showing the individual determination as the Disciples. They endured every terrible trial or punishment you can think of to their death. Literally, with the single exception of John, the only disciple to die of natural causes.
Let's consider just one example, Paul.
Paul is a supreme example of New Testament perseverance. Can you imagine a more compelling conversion story, changing away from killing Christians to becoming one—like Paul did? Yet after his transformation, he became a firebrand for Jesus in the face of many hardships. The evidence presented in 2 Corinthians reports Paul was beaten with rods three times, exposed to death several times, flogged, imprisoned repeatedly, stoned, received 39 lashes multiple times, and shipwrecked thrice.
How the 12 disciples died is truly a testament to their perseverance of spreading the Gospel of Christ. The way the disciples were put to death contains significant implications for both the guilty authorities and the innocent. The evil doers decided gruesomely cruel, inhumane punishments would be powerful examples to persuade by placing a fear of joining this upcoming religious fervor into the hearts of the common people. Meanwhile, the disciple remained true to God throughout their earthly struggles and debasements.
Simon and Jude were crucified. Peter's crucifixion was, by his own request, upside down. James the Greater was beheaded. Thomas was speared. Matthew, reportedly, was killed by sword, or by spear, or some other painful way of being killed. Of Matthew's death, there is scant, if any, agreement between Christian and secular records, but it is safe to speculate that he died as a martyr.
You may be appalled to read who I nominate as the biblical figure who has persevered the longest by far and continues to struggle on in the face of absolute failure. Was that enough clue for you to guess?
Even though he was banished from heaven and sentenced to roam back and forth over the earth until his ultimate confinement and eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire, Satan persists in his despicable plans. In the meantime, it is almost unimaginable that he would continue to oppose God. Satan's fate is recorded in the Bible and far better than any of us, the devil knows the Bible inside out.
Sometimes people mistakenly believe that Satan is God’s evil equivalent. This is simply not true. Satan is a deceiver and a liar. John told us, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Satan deploys deception at every opportunity. To him, falsehoods and intentional misrepresentation are his favorite art forms. He works hard to get you to believe things that are not true, and gossip is one of his sharpest tools. Possibly, the greatest among his deceptions is his attempts to convince people he doesn’t exist.
The devil's goals and motives are very focused. His first desire is to rob you of eternal life by keeping you from understanding the truth of the gospel. He does not want people to really know the truth of who Jesus is and turn to him for salvation.
Still, Satan and his demonic fallen angels remain powerful, crafty, deceitful, and dedicated to opposing God in every way they can. 1 Peter. 5:8 warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ”
Fear God, but never fear the devil. You have the power to negate Satan's influence over you, despite his powerful skullduggery. Utilizing his ability to mimic and deceive, he can direct the forces of darkness against you. Disregard Satan and he can not overtake you—unless you allow it. Remember this spoken promise from the lips of God. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” 1 John 4:4.
Lucifer knows exactly what awaits him in the end. His goal, therefore, must be to try to take as many people along with him as possible. That’s why we all must speak the gospel and proclaim God's truth. Our efforts help the Holy Spirit snatch people away from the brink of darkness and guide them towards the kingdom of light.
But let us not glorify the master of all the evil clans, but return to the most Holy of all, Jesus Christ the Messiah.
Jesus was and is the ultimate manifestation of perseverance until death. No one has suffered as he did. Christ lived a sinless life, and the Bible records many instances of how we are to live by His example. He persevered through agony on the cross, enduring the incalculable pain for all the sins of the world. Jesus gave His life to save sinners like us and offered the single most supremely perfect example of perseverance.
Through the gospels, we are able to read His story and cling to His example. Christ shows us how to carry on through life's hardships, hard knocks, pains, and sorrows.
Through Christ's strength, we can savor victory over all life’s problems! By following and adhering to the examples of Jesus’—we can finish this life with a cry to God saying that we lived faithfully to the highest level of our individual capabilities.
We all should thank God for His impartiality. No matter your creed or color, no matter if you are old or young, rich or poor, wise or not so wise, He doesn’t play favorites. God offers the same love to all people praying in pitiful situations as well as those that give thanks and pray from the mountaintops of life.
Granted, sometimes the cost of being a Christian seems steep. But who in their sound mind doubts that it is worth any and every cost to have a saved soul? In a storm, when seagoing ships are in danger of sinking, the crews cast overboard the most precious cargo. Most people are willing, although reluctantly, to have a limb amputated when it is festering with gangrene.
Surely, Christians should be willing to persevere through every situation standing between them and heaven. We all go through difficult times at one time or another. When the world is beating us down but we see no future relief, what can we be sure of? If our family and friends refuse to extend a helping hand or express genuine empathy for our plight, who can lift us up?
God is with us in our troubles. He provides what we need when we just keep on going and keep on praying. In knowing we are not alone, we should feel a sense of security, and bask in His love and strength. Jesus certainly was familiar with incredible suffering—does your suffering compare? Christ knew rejection, is yours worse? He comprehended and refused temptations. Can you?
Does God really have a purpose for allowing us to live through hard times? In the book of Genesis, Joseph did not know God’s intentions when his brothers were conspiring against him—and most of the time, neither will we. But Joseph knew the Lord’s character and trusted Him through all the troubles and challenges he faced. And in the end, Joseph’s reward was not only for himself, but for his family as well (Genesis 45:1-8).
We are called to live lives faithful to God and Christ, a life of faith. We are taught to believe God’s promises, even if we are confused by our present circumstances. When troubles surround you and threaten to overtake you, remember God is true. God will never desert or abandon you (Hebrews 13:5). His purposes, for all goodness, will always be accomplished (Isaiah 14:27).
Perseverance is the key to climbing out of life's valleys and over most insurmountable hills. We all have conquered, we all have persevered.
Surely, our remaining time should be spent doing God's work and following His commands.
The end
