No 27

(Perseverance)

“Continue in the faith” Acts 14:22

Perseverance is the mark of true saints; the Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: he said, “Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.” So, under God, conquest has made us what we are and conquest must sustain us. He only is a true conqueror and shall be crowned at the last who continues till the war ends. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies. The Bible says “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Math 24:13). A true believer will endure to the end because he is saved not to be saved. The world does not object to our being a Christian for a time if it can tempt us to cease our pilgrimage and settle down to buy into its vanities. The flesh will seek to ensnare us and to prevent our pressing on to glory. Satan will make many a fierce attack on our perseverance; it will be the mark for all his “fiery darts” (Eph 6:16). He will strive to hinder us in our service: he will insinuate that we are doing no good; and that we should rest. He will endeavour to make us weary of suffering, he will whisper, “Curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9). Or he will attack our steadfastness: What’s the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest and sleep as others do; there’s nothing wrong with resting. Or he will try to muddle our doctrinal positions: Why do you hold to these stern beliefs? Sensible people are becoming more liberal and they are moving with the times. There are three types of people in the world – those who are in the battle (spiritual); those who watch the battle go by and those who don’t even know there’s a battle going on. May we be as persevering as Paul and may we take the advice he gave to the Ephesians “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph 6 : 10,11.