The Bible speaks volumes about endurance and contains examples of those who endured hard things. We read how the one who endures to the end will inherit God's blessings. So, what is endurance and how does one gain endurance? Endurance is defined as the act of withstanding hardship. It's the ability to continue on to the end.
When the first century church was experiencing persecution and trouble from false teachers, Jude, one of the leaders of the church, penned out a letter that speaks about endurance. He desired to give them the tools to help them endure and warns them not to conform to ungodly standards nor give into pressures.
Jude gives powerful lessons on faith as he exposes the false teachers as those who followed Cain and Balaam. He calls them shepherds who feed only themselves and clouds without rain. Jude reminds the church that these men will be judged. Then Jude gives believers hope as he speaks about endurance.
Jude 20-25, "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
Christians are different, they are to build themselves up in the faith. But Jude is not talking about self-esteem, he speaks of encouragement. When mercy is needed give it, when a rebuke is in order, give it. It is the church's job to encourage one another and minister to those in need. Still real encouragement comes form Holy Spirit inspired prayer and as God's Spirit speaks to you when you intercede for others looking forward to the Lord to bring you to heaven.
Today many things are unsure, unemployment is high and the economy is in trouble. Some are fearful of government expansion, or even global warming. In many places the persecution of Christians is real, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba even India, currently have people who are dying for their faith in Jesus Christ. For many these are scary times. Today more then ever, the church needs to heed Jude's call for helping one another to endure.
But notice where Jude ends his encouragement, he ends with Jesus. That my friends is where Christians find the strength to endure. It is Jesus Christ who is able to keep you from falling. It is Jesus who is able present you before the Father. He is our rock of endurance, he is our place of encouragement, because he is the one we worship. So to him be glory, both now and forevermore. Amen.
Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship is a member of Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
