Keeping the Faith

Did you realize that visible faith costs comfort? Hard times create perseverance in us… which leads to character… which leads to hope (Romans 5:3). It's like strength is a butterfly borne from the cocoon of hardship (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Ultimately, our perseverance is Christ’s product, or outgrowth, in us when we are faithful. We hang on; He produces (2 Thessalonians 3:2-5)! As far as our perspective on life goes, perseverance involves looking beyond the obstacle to see the possibility (James 1:3-4). When it comes to dealing with mounting pressure, perseverance is basking in God’s compassion no matter destruction rages around me (James 5:10-11). We cling to hope when we keep facing obstacles, because perseverance leads to effective, productive lives (2 Peter 1:5-8). When we keep the faith, our stick-to-it-iveness upholds Christ’s light in a dark society (Revelation 2:2-5). In matters of trust, perseverance is remembering what Christ has done in the past and trusting in what He will accomplish in my present and future. It is a deliberate commitment when I see no way (Hebrews 10:32—11:1), like a marriage that chooses to honor its vow before God even when the love dims to barely a flicker of its previous blaze. Faith is really perseverance looking ahead to the end result, to the promised and expected reward (Hebrews 11:24-27). Oswald Chambers puts it this way: "Patience is more than endurance. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and then the saint says—‘I cannot stand any more.’ God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands." (Chambers, May 8) How trusting was Job when he uttered, "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him" Job 13:15. Ultimately, perseverance is letting God keep me, even when my faith is slipping and I'm not sure I can keep holding on.