Endurance
A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
In the world around us, a lot of attention is given to the matter of "success". However, too often, success is measured in dollars and possessions. A couple days ago a man who felt he could not succeed, ended his own life after brutally murdering his wife, his two children, and nine others who, like him, worked in the "day trading" Stock Market business. Mark Barton had lost $105,000 during his last month of trading, and evidently blamed it on the people he worked with. Just today we heard that a woman who is 8 months pregnant - she promised her unborn baby to 6 different couples who each paid $16,000 to adopt her baby. A couple of weeks ago we learned that last year over 35,000 suicides in Japan have been blamed on the economic recession in that country. When the money was gone, there was no longer any reason to live, the shame of poverty was a burden too heavy to bear. However, there is another way to measure success, simply that we stay with the program until the end. When my son was a teenager, he once ran in a "Triathlon" race. He trained for months, and finally the day came. I drove him to Lake Winnapasauke, New Hampshire, and waited for him while he swam 2/3 of a mile, rode his bike for 19 miles, and than ran for 6. At the end of the afternoon, I could hardly hold back the tears as I proudly watched Ted come jogging to the finish line for the third time. No, he wasn't the winner of the race, but he had completed the race. Jesus said, ". . . he that endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22 - We should note that the context is persecution; it seems that Jesus never imagined a situation where there would be no persecution.) The idea that success is "completion" can be applied to many areas of our lives. In school, for example, there's a special virtue in finishing, staying with the program until the end when you receive the diploma or the degree. It's evident in the world of music, the awards go to those who stay with the schedule - they practice, practice, practice. It's especially true in the marriage relationship. Often when I'm talking with couples who are planning for their wedding, I remind them, the wedding service lasts 35 minutes, it takes a life-time to make a marriage. A few years ago, in 1986 to be exact, a study was made of 351 marriages which had lasted for at least 15 years. The question was asked, "What are the most important ingredients in your experience of marriage?" Husbands and wives were interviewed separately - their responses were compiled and this list represents the order of frequency as named by these people. It's interesting to note that the top seven items were named by both men and women:
2. I like my spouse as a person. 3. Marriage is a long-term commitment. 4. Marriage is sacred. 5. We agree on aims and goals. 6. My spouse has grown more interesting. 7. I want the relationship to succeed. 8. An enduring marriage is important to social stability. 9. We laugh together. 10. I am proud of my spouse's achievements. 11. We agree on a philosophy of life. 12. We agree about our sex life. 1. My spouse is my best friend. 2. I like my spouse as a person. 3. Marriage is a long-term commitment. 4. Marriage is sacred. 5. We agree on aims and goals. 6. My spouse has grown more interesting. 7. I want the relationship to succeed. 8. We laugh together. 9. We agree on a philosophy of life. 10. We agree on how and how often to show affection. 11. An enduring marriage is important to social stability. 12. We have a stimulating exchange. Whatever the reasons, most of us would agree that longevity in marriage is a very important goal, so stay with the program, or as the saying goes, "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." But then there is the area of athletics. The New Testament often refers to this analogy of the Christian life. I Corinthians 9:24-27 Keep your eyes on the prize, making sure it's a worthy one, submit to training, be focused, and be responsible for your own well being. Philippians 3:13,14 A similar message, keep focused on the goal, and put all your energy into reaching that goal. II Timothy 2:5 You have to play by the rules. II Timothy 4:7,8 At the end of his life, Paul believes that he had "finished the race", and he would receive the crown. Hebrews 12:1 Running the race with perseverance means that we rid ourselves of all possible hindrances. Who is the supreme example of this perseverance? The very next verse tells us, it is Jesus. Let me ask you, what if Jesus had quit the race? Instead of crying out from the cross, "It is finished", what would have happened if He had yelled, "I quit!" Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. In America today, it appears that there are many who are not willing to stay with the program. As long as it makes me feel good, I'll keep living for God. As long as my needs are being met, or as long as I like the way things are going, as long as I agree with the way things are done, then I will stay with the program. The theme song is "I'll have it my way". Our business world is built around the premise, "the customer is always right". "What Lola wants, Lola gets." Just this week I heard what was, for me, a new expression - the "infantiling" of America. We demand what we want, and we want it now - nothing short of instant gratification will be acceptable. However, in the Christian life, while there are blessings along the way, the prize comes at the end of the race. Take another look at the passage in Philippians 3 - in verse 15 it says, "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things." Maturity is characterized by the determination to remain faithful, to run the race to the finish. There is a dangerous teaching that has permeated certain parts of the Christian church, what is called the "once saved, always saved" doctrine. Why do we call this teaching dangerous? Because the implication is that all we have to do is repeat the "sinner's prayer", and we're saved - there's nothing more to do. Listen to what Jesus taught in John 15:1-7 - bearing fruit is essential for the Christian's success, but bearing fruit is dependent upon our remaining in Him: Everyone remembers the marvelous story about Jesus feeding the multitudes, a story reported in John chapter 6. This miracle made the people very happy, and they wanted to make Him King (verse 15). Notice also what Jesus said in verse 26, ". . . you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life." By the time we get to verse 66, we learn, "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." Then Jesus asked, "You do not want to leave too, do you?" and Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Why did they leave Him? Perhaps because they realized they weren't going to get what they wanted - there would be no "miracles on demand", and He would not become their political leader. Or perhaps it was because of His teaching (verses 56,57), "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me." What occurs to me is this, eating and drinking are activities which have to be done repeatedly. How many days can you live without water? Three? How many days can you live without food? Fifty? So it is with spiritual life. Once for all doesn't work, there has to be a faithful continuation of belief, a perseverance. "He that endures to the end shall be saved." We just learned that the expected life span for Americans has now reached 76.1 years. Of course, that's not a promise, but how ever long you may live, when the time comes to pass from this life to the next, will you still be living for Jesus?  - - Return to Top of this Page  - Email a Link to this Page
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