The thing about Christianity is that it is eternal. It starts in the earth and continues in heaven. It is never ending.
From a perspective of those believers who are still in the the earth, there is a need for patience and endurance during this period before we go to be with the Lord.
Staying the course
Everlasting life has begun. It commenced the day we confessed Jesus as Lord, but there is a walk we are on that keeps us in the earth until we go to be with Him.
Endurance is a quality that enables us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. According to Paul the onus is on us to stay the course.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
The good news is that God has said He will keep us. He will empower us to continue in faith. We also have some tools at our disposal, such as the Word and the Spirit, faith and patience, which will enable us to keep going, but we are to join with God to keep ourselves with and for Him.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.
Jude 1:24-25
Amen.
Yes, so God is able to keep us from falling, and will present us faultless before His presence, but there is also the sense that we need to keep ourselves in His love as our part of the arrangement.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21
So we are to keep ourselves as much as God is keeping us. It is a partnership, a two-way transaction. He keeps us as we keep ourselves in His love, in His presence, in His paths.
Guarding our lives
To keep is to guard by keeping our eye upon something. It has the idea of a fortress or full military lines of apparatus (Strongs Dictionary). A keep is part of a castle, a high, strong, secured circular wall or tower that guards us from external forces.
W. E. Vines’ Dictionary also adds the idea of ‘to be kept in charge.’ This puts the responsibility on us to be in charge of who we are, how we go about life, and, importantly who we serve.
Endurance is about keeping on. So we are to keep on keeping on, as some say. It is a journey, one step at a time, one day at a time, one victory at a time.
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
Hebrews 10:35-39
“For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Our confidence, which is based on our faith in God, is what provides the endurance. Confidence is certainty of position and perspective. Keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus helps us along the way. There will be many distractions, temptations, tests and trials but all will be overcome as we stay the journey and remain in faith.
We are not of those who draw back. There are people who will shipwreck their faith because of the cares of this life, or because difficult challenges come their way, or because the road seems harder than at first, but we are not them.
We believe and we will continue to believe. That is how we overcome, and that is the essence of endurance.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:4-5
