Among many other things, Winston Churchill once said, "If you're going through hell, keep going," because he believed that perseverance will get you through anything. But he wasn't the only one. Thomas Carlye observed, "Permanence, perseverance, and persistence, in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak." And Calvin Coolidge summed it up: "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent; genius will not, unrewarded genius is almost a proverb; education will not, the world is filled with uneducated derelicts. Persistence and determination (perseverance) alone are omnipotent." The prize belongs to those who finish the course- this seems to be an undeniable truth- whether we're talking about a youngster taking accordian lessons (yes, that happened in the old days), a person working on a graduate degree (one of my professors told me that, to get a Doctorate, one needs nothing more than a modicum of intelligence and a wealth of perseverance), a soldier trying to take a hill somewhere, or any parent with a teenage child. In all of these cases, uncontrollable factors are affect one's fate... but the person involved... can (and must) keep moving... and not quit.
Sometimes, of course, perseverance leads to unexpected victory. We all know Lincoln's story. He failed in business at 22, was defeated for congress at 23, failed again in business at 24, was elected to congress at 25, only to have a nervous breakdown at 27. He was defeated for Speaker at 29, defeated for congress altogether at 34, and again at 39 (he won a seat when he was 37). He was defeated for the Senate at 46, defeated for Vice President at 47, defeated for the Senate again at 49... and elected President of the United States at 51! What incredible perseverance. Anyone in his or her right mind would have closed up shop and gone fishing somewhere along the way. But according to his dairy, John Wesley had much the same experience. Here's one of his entries: Sunday morning, May 5- Preached at St Anne's. Was asked not to come back anymore. Sunday afternoon, May 5- Preached at St John's. Deacons said, "Get out and stay out." Sunday morning, May 19- Preached at another church. After service, Deacons held a special meeting and determinedn that I was not welcome. Sunday morning, May 26- Preached in a meadow. Chased out of the meadow when a bull was released during the service. Sunday morning, June 2- Preached out at the edge of town. Kicked off the highway. Sunday afternoon, June 2- Preached in a pasture. 10,000 people came out to hear me!
There are many of these stories, but for those of us who are responding to God's call in our lives, perseverance is its own reward. If we're following God's call, if we're about the Lord's business, there is great joy in just doing it... and besides, we know that our Master will see us through. When he had lost yet another battle in his quest to end slavery in England, William Wilberforce, discouraged, sat alone and thumbed through his Bible, and as he was doing so, a note that John Wesley had written him, shortly before he died, fell to the floor. Wilberforce picked it up and his spirits were lifted when he read these words: Unless God has raised you up... I see not how you can persevere in your glorious enterprise (of opposing slavery), which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Oh, be not weary of well-doing. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might.
Go on, go on. Going on in the name of God. That's what perseverance is about. That's why perseverance is so important. Each of us has work to do for God, and we've all been equipped to get it done. We are all capable of making a difference for Christ... and we must not quit! Our work is too important. Our promise is too great. If we prepare ourselves for service, if we keep ourselves spiritually fit, and if we "go on," we can do wonderful things for Christ. This is much of what Paul said in most of his letters, and certainly in his 2nd letter to Timothy. Paul was nearing the end of his life, and as he awaited his prize, and he offered Timothy a bit of wisdom. Things are going to go from bad to worse, he said, and people are going to become even more resistant to the Word of God than they are now. Expected to be persecuted. Indeed, anyone who does anything worth doing for Christ, Paul notes (3:12), will be persecuted. (Get involved and get persecuted- how about that for a church growth theme?) So, be prepared. Keep preaching to people... who are reluctant to listen and continue to counsel, encourage, and admonish them with God's word, even if they resist your words and reject you. Doing God's work, the apostle noted, is not easy.. and you, Timothy, will need all the prayer and perseverance that you can muster. But God will always be with you. You know this. You've known it for a long time, but you need to recall it everyday... because knowing (really knowing) that you're in God's hands will see you through anything! Don't quit, Timothy! Don't ever change your message ...just to please others. Keep yourself strong, stay in touch with God, and keep on keeping on. This then is Paul's simple message to us. 1) Keep yourself spiritually fit, 2) stay in touch with God through prayer, 3) study God's word, 4) find a way of serving, and 5) keep on. Whatever your task for Jesus, keep on. Perseverance is more important than all of the charm, money, and education in the world, and it is ours for the asking. If we stand on God's word (please join one of our adult classes and learn the Bible) and invest in our own spiritual fitness (prayer, devotions, church groups)... we will soon be spiritually mature enough, as people and as a people, to discern God's call in our lives and to start taking steps down the path less traveled. Can we do this? Can we equip ourselves... for bold and faithful service to Christ? Of course we can, and what is more, once we begin our journey, we will see it through. After all, perseverance is a gift of the Spirit and we know, deep in our hearts, that God is walking with us. Rather than just gathering together every Sunday (as nice as it is), let's begin a journey together.
I doubt if 10,000 people will turn out to hear me, and I suspect that none of you will be elected President... but our prize awaits and besides, we will find great joy in the persevering!
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