Endurance!

(Hebrews 12:1) “...Let us run with endurance...”

To be a successful athlete, what does that demand? It demands effort, ability but above all discipline, which in turn will produce endurance. So then what do we seek out above all? I would say it must be endurance! But to find endurance we must be disciplined.

The writer of Hebrews, some suggest Paul while other Timothy, it is possibly one of the two. Whoever it may have been is not that relevant, if it was that critical we would have been informed. But what is crucial is to be taught from the penned words in the book of Hebrews. The writer spends a whole episode in chapter in 11 on many characters of faith who overcame diverse odds. And although it almost seemed impossible at times, they finished their race with flying colours. Yes, some died and where sawn in half but nevertheless endure unto their end. They finished well, glorifying God and magnifying our great Saviours ability to get them home: - “Quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-- of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (Hebrews 11:34-38) 

What is rather fascinating is the world viewed them as the off-scouring of the earth, failures, and dropouts, yet the writer puts them in the category of “whom the world was not worthy!” two different views, a man-centred and then a God-centred outlook, I wonder how we reason? If we put on the mind of Christ, we must share the writer’s sentiments.

We all in some form have been called upon to endure various sorts of physical challenges. Some no doubt more than others but we all have been taught something about ourselves whilst having to endure. The greatest test I faced off against was when I was in Oudtshoorn Infantry School; the objective was a five day haul on foot throughout the surrounding mountains, our (soldiers on course) objective was to finish, but their (our instructors) objective was to break us down by preventing us from lasting. If this happened we would then be kicked off course and not qualify as instructors. This test taught me a lot about self, the body is an amazing creation, just when you think you can do no more, it somehow finds another gear. It is not the body that fails but rather the mind. Our mind sends signals to our body saying, ENOUGH! Some endure whilst others give-in. We see differences in shifting individual’s make-ups. That is why some made it to the end and others didn’t!  But we must all recognise that every Christian now has an equal opportunity to make it to the end, as we have the mind of Christ; "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1Corinthians 2:16)

All that is now needed is for us to reason with faith; I agree that faith is a gift; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) – We have all been equipped with the ability to find endurance and that does not come from our ability as individuals but rather from God and it is “not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:9)

We needn’t now depend on our carnal abilities but now we are instructed to walk not by sight but by faith. We now depend on Christ’s ability to get us home. We find our endurance in His achievements; all we now need to do is believe! It is as simple as that! I agree the trials of life press us hard at times, and it seems that some are pressed harder than others. Why? I believe that it has something to do with our gifting and calling. Let me explain; Why did Job have to endure such hardship, the answer is obvious! To glorify God! Why then would it be any different for us? It won’t be! What will however vary is the measure in which we are tried and tested. This now brings gifting into the equation, we are not meant to compare ourselves with one another, but all we need do is be found faithful with what we have been given. It would be unfair to expect a servant to do the same amount of work as ten servants. In like manner God will not require more from us than that which He has given us. David slew Goliath and never for a minute did he believed he would fail. God required it from him, but also with the necessity gave him the faith to believe that he could do it. He had previously killed lions and bears when guarding his flock. He understood God’s ability to get him through. But God does not hold it against any child who lived amongst David at that time, for not stepping up to the plate, for not wanting to take on Goliath. Why would He! In like manner God will only require from us what we are capable of achieving. It depends entirely on our individual measure of faith. If I have one measure of faith, another two and another then five, what then is require from us? We should in principle at least double our measures. The one with five would produce another five, but the one with two would not be required to make five but another two. Get the point! Let us now use a parable to illustrate; "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.” (Matthew 25:14-17)

When we understand this truth, it should put to bed us wanting to compare ourselves amongst ourselves. It is not a competition in that sense, we must encourage and lay down our lives for one another, building up and not breaking down. We must not do the work of the devil! We must put on the mind of Christ!

Let me leave us with this encouraging thought, bearing in mind what we have just discussed; Let us train to become disciplined in putting on the mind of Christ, so that we may find endurance to run this glorious race. Discipline will produce perseverance! I have fallen terribly in this area of my life, but God who is rich in mercy has afford all who share a similar fate to now forget that which is behind and press on. Even if I have failed and not shared Paul’s testimony: - “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1Corinthians 9:27) – As I have been disqulified in the past, I now say to all let us put on the mind of Christ and find discipline as a part of our lives. Regardless of where you may find yourself, while we have breathe we have hope, but more than that we now have the mind of Christ, it is time to change gears, remembering that our Saviour has overcome, so that we too may overcome. All honour and glory belongs to Him, praise his name, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone