Articles
Perseverance
Perseverance is a quality all of us need to develop in our life. In a list of qualities which we should be adding to our faith we are told, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5-7, NKJV). Timothy is commended for following Paul’s example in various areas and one of those areas is Paul’s perseverance. 2 Timothy 3:10-11 says, “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra - what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (NKJV). Jesus will praise the church at Ephesus for their perseverance by saying, “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary” (Revelation 2:2-3, NKJV). Jesus likewise praised the church at Philadelphia’s perseverance. He told them, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10, NKJV). Perseverance is the ability to bear up in difficult circumstances. Perseverance is the mindset which does not give up when things get difficult. Perseverance is a quality people in the world recognize as valuable and useful in leaders and in dealing with life. Perseverance is especially needed if we are going to be successful at pleasing God.
Perseverance is demonstrated in times when things are not easy. Romans 5:3-4 teaches us to glory in tribulations, saying, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (NKJV). When tribulation comes our way, it tests whether we will stick with serving God (persevere) or whether we will instead give up. How do we respond to tribulation in our lives? Does it cause us to become discouraged? Does it lead us to think about just quitting? Or do we respond with an attitude which is ready to persevere through the challenge which lies ahead? Job is a great example of an individual who persevered in difficult circumstances. James 5:11 encourages us to remember the perseverance of Job. It says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (NKJV). Many times people experience a lot less in the way of tribulation than Job did but are ready to give up and quit. Job may not have understood always what was going on or why it was going on but he endured and did not give up. We would do well to have a similar sort of perseverance when challenges come our way.
Perseverance involves not giving up on something just because we do not see immediate results. Think about the area of prayer. Ephesians 6:18 instructs us to be, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (NKJV). Prayer is an area of life where we need perseverance. We need to continue to pray and not give up when it seems to be producing no results at the moment. Remember 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing” (NKJV). Remember Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 which teaches, “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (NKJV).
Perseverance means when we fall down we do not stay down but we get back up (Proverbs 24:16) and continue on running the race before us with endurance (Hebrews 12:1-2). Perseverance enables us to follow Jesus not just for the short-term (Mark 4:16-17) but rather to endure all the way to the end (Luke 8:15; Matthew 24:13; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 10:35-39). Are we determined to be people who will persevere in our service to God enduring all the way to the end so we can be saved? Let’s not be people who quit, lose heart, go back to the world, etc. and cast away our confidence!
