The Matter of Endurance

What Jesus and the apostolic authors often repeated bears repeating.

But if I don’t recognize the reasons they did, then I might miss their point.

The apostle Peter wrote to those who were chosen, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His great mercy has given [to] us new birth [as a] living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [in order to obtain] an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, having been guarded in the heavens for you all, who are shielded by the power of God by the means of [your] faith for salvation prepared to be revealed in the last time.” [1Pet. 1:3-5] [my emphasis]

The apostle Paul, in his letter the church of God which was at Corinth, said:

“Do you not know that, those who run in a race all run, but [only] one receives the prize? Run, [then], in such a way that you might win. All who compete in the games exercise self-control in all [things] in order that they might receive a perishable wreath. But we [shall receive] an imperishable [prize]. In the same way, I run not without aim. In the same way, I [also] box, not beating the air. But, [instead], I discipline my body, even enslaving [it], lest, if, somehow, after preaching to others, I myself would not become disqualified.” [1Cor. 9:24-27] [my emphasis]

If I can’t presume anything else from these two men who actually knew and spoke to the Man, Jesus Christ, I can certainly conclude that, ultimately, salvation is something I can only realize in “the last time,” which would coincide with His second coming.

And what could be more obvious that, without training myself in such a way to be able to “finish the race” in a manner to actually achieve the prize, I might not even make it at all.

The New Testament letters and narratives record sixteen instances of six different words translated as “endurance” in the NASB version, including three uses by Jesus Himself, having spoken the word ὑπομένω [hoop-aw-mên’-ōh], meaning to stay behind, to stand firm, endure or persevere or μένω [mên’-ōh], meaning to remain.

He said: “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.” [Matt. 24:13]

Here’s what I try to remember: Any type of race requires stamina.

And it gets harder the closer I get to the end of it.