He cares for you” (I Peter 5:7).
Living in the modern pressure-cooker of the world of today is tough. It is a dog-eat-dog society in the business world. It seems more and more people are finding more and more ways to be dishonest. Christians are often discriminated against. Many couples feel the need to spend hours away from home making a living for their family. Too many people have full schedules and empty lives.
Someone has said, “Many people, like you and me, find themselves hanging dangerously heavy weights of anxiety on very thin threads of patience. Tempers flare, stomachs churn, ulcers bleed, hearts break, nerves unravel, minds blow. The thread of patience frequently breaks and needs repair. Some people snap, some drop out while others tighten their grip and try to cope.” To me the saddest part in the world in which we live is that there are people who once were faithful Christian, but who have now given up. They were not able to cope with the pressures of life or able to resist the pleasures of sin.
Myths About the Christian Life.
First, all your problems will be solved when you become a Christian. The blood of Christ washes away sins we have committed (Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 1:7), but it does not remove all our problems. In fact, when one makes a commitment to serve God, Satan will work more diligently to make life harder! Young Christians are the most likely ones to face major struggles with life as soon as they become Christians. Think about such righteous men as Job who suffered tremendously or Joseph who was mistreated even by his family (Genesis 37-50) or Daniel who was persecuted because of his belief (Daniel 6).
Second, the myth that if you are having problems, you are not spiritual. This was a false idea that the Jews had. Problems are just part of life whether one is spiritual or not spiritual. The question is, “How are we going to handle those problems?
Third, the myth that just because one has been a Christian a long time means that one is mature. It is one thing to grow old in Christ, but it is another thing to grow up in Christ. Spiritual maturity comes through effort, not just age. The Christians to whom the Hebrew writer spoke had this problem. They had been Christians a long time but had not matured. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). Even though they had been Christians a long time, they had not grown to maturity.
Fourth, that one becomes spiritually mature without making a sacrifice. We live in the age of instant everything, and people would like to have spirituality instantly and without effort. The cost of spiritualty is high. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Most of us are willing to deny ourselves some things, but that is not good enough; We must deny self. We do that because when we were baptized into Christ, we died. Paul illustrated that with his life. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Spirituality comes only when we die to self and live for Christ.
The Answer: Perseverance
The English definition of “perseverance” is: “The act or fact of sticking to a purpose or an aim and never Seven stronger meaning. “The characteristic of a man who is will not be moved away from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.” Success has been defined as getting up one more time than one has been knocked down. We are all going to be knocked down, but in order to cope with life we must get back up.
Jesus used this word when describing those who have the good soil and receive the word. “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heat, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance” (Luke 8:15).
How Do We Endure?
First, we must realize we have only one purpose in life. After Solomon had pursued the meaning of life in all the ways men and women pursue it today, he said, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). With all the pressure of daily living it is easy to forget this simple principle! Jesus summed up what Solomon said by saying, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (necessities of life) will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Second, don’t add tomorrow’s weight to today’s load. Again, Jesus has the answer, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). Most of what we worry about in the future never happens.
Third, let Jesus help you carry your load. Peter wrote to people who had tremendous burdens to bear. He exhorted them, “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because same answer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be make known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:6-7).
Fourth, do all we can and then wait on the Lord to answer. Waiting on anything is hard for us. As said before, we like everything to happen instantaneously. Isaiah’s explanation ought to comfort us. “Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God’? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:27-31).
“Waiting” involves trusting. Scholars say that the root meaning of the Hebrew word for “wait” is to twist or stretch, like twisting strands of fiber to make a rope. The application is that we are to take my strands of fiber and twist it with God’s strength and character then my strand becomes stronger like His character.
Fifth, know that He will not allow more to be put on us than we can handle. God know us better than we know ourselves. He knows that we can handle more than we think we can handle. Paul encourages us by saying, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way oof escape also, so that you will be a le to endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13). Help is available, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrew 4:16).
Conclusion
Life is tough. All aspects of the world make life hard. But, as someone said, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang-on!” Help is available. Don’t give up! Determine to endure!
Wayne Burger