Endurance? What does this mean. It is not, we notice, a contest of strength, for we are not strong enough to succeed on our own. It is not a sprint but a marathon. "The one who perseveres to the end will be saved" (cf. Mat. 24:13). There may indeed be some heavy breathing. There may be lactic acid build up and soreness. We may grow hungry and thirsty. But we don't earn the victory by satiating these impulses. Indeed, the victory is ours only if we run to the end. To that end, the great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, encourages us, and cheers us on, so "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (cf. Heb. 12:1).
If we just keep running toward Jesus we will be like the land that yields fruit of its own accord. We don't engineer and direct the growth of the kingdom inside. But if we keep running it grows. We can look to our own pasts. We can see that God is faithful in each of our lives. This should make us confident. We didn't have to create the fruit ourselves in those days of hardship.
Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened,
you endured a great contest of suffering.
When we remember that he was faithful we are able to trust that he will continue to be so. We become confident that he will bring this good work to completion in us (cf. Phi. 1:6). Listen to Paul's confidence:
We are not among those who draw back and perish,
but among those who have faith and will possess life.
We may not think of ourselves as marathoners. We may sometimes worry that enduring the challenges and hardships of life will overwhelm us. But the mustard seed of God's kingdom is within us. It seems small now but it grows, just given the time. The seed sprouts, just given the time. It is hidden and small and we don't direct it. But if we just give it time it will bear fruit, grow enormously, and carry us to victory. And this is the meaning of endurance. It is to give the fruit time to grow. So we commit our running of the race to the LORD. We rely on him and not ourselves.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
Even if we stumble in the race he will sustain us to the end.
By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way.
Though he fall, he does not lie prostrate,
for the hand of the LORD sustains him.
Our salvation is from him. Our victory is from him. May our praises rise to him forever.
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