Perseverance; Hebrews 3
From the heart of the pastor...
“We have become
partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of
our assurance firm until the end” (Heb. 3:14).
Partakers are perseverers. Jesus’ parable of the four
soil types describes mankind’s fickleness. Some folks
appearing as Christians are merely appearers. Others
seem to grow in their faith until they encounter dry
times and then they wither on the vine. Still others
have every semblance of growing in their relationship
with Jesus until the pressures and pleasures of the
world rob their interests in the Lord.
Endurance proves reality. It is too easy to go back to
Egypt, back to religion without relationship, back to
your old way of living. Jesus’ crucifixion was your
exodus. Do not reenter an empty tomb.
Though most people fail, you must “hold fast the
beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” They
have enough faith to leave Egypt, but not enough to
enter the Promised Land. They are not prepared or
willing to make the sacrifices necessary to attain the
desired rest. The majority of people may have
sufficient trust to know that God brought them out of a
difficult situation, but insufficient trust to believe
that God will bring them into His abundance. Their fear
of discomfort is greater than their fear of the
Pharaoh.
Persistent prevailers exercise self-control so as to run
life’s race to win (I Cor. 9:24f.). Nearly forty years
of witnessing God’s loving sovereignty failed to
dissuade the Hebrews from hardening their hearts.
Apostasy is dangerous as it is ever-pressing into
faithful lives. God says, “Take care, brethren, lest
there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving
heart, in falling away from the living God” (Heb.
3:12). Unbelief is sin’s most fertile womb. Unbelief
alienates commitment from perseverance – unbelief
alienates man from God.
Disobedience disables the best of intentions. You not
only enter by the narrow gate, you must stay in the
narrow way. John offers an insightful and encouraging
reminder: “They went out from us, but they were not
really of us; for if they had been of us, they would
have remained with us; but they went out, in order that
it might be shown that they all are not of us. But you
have an anointing from the Holy One” (I Jn. 2:19f.).
Since you have an anointing from the Holy One, identify
your perseverance molesters and inoculate yourself
against their molestations.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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