2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith
Beloved, let us gather our hearts today and focus on a
message that is as timeless as the Word of God itself. It is a message of
endurance, of perseverance, and of the strength found in unwavering faith. The
message is simple yet profound: "Endure to the end."
The Bible, in Matthew 24:13, says, "But the one who
endures to the end will be saved." This verse is a beacon of hope, a
clarion call to all believers to stand firm in faith, no matter the trials and
tribulations that life may throw at us. It is a call to endurance; a call to
hold fast to our faith even when the storm rages, even when the path is steep,
even when the journey is long.
Endurance, dear ones, is not about speed. It is not about
getting to the end the fastest. It is about staying the course, about not
giving up, about keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
our faith. It is about clinging to the promises of God and not letting go, no
matter what comes our way.
In our journey of faith, we will face storms. We will face
trials and tribulations. We will face moments of doubt and moments of fear. But
we must not let these things shake us. We must not let them deter us from our
path. We must endure.
Endurance is about resilience. It is about being like the
tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not
fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the
year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit (Jeremiah 17:8).
Endurance is about hope. It is about believing in the
promises of God, even when we cannot see them. It is about holding onto hope,
even when everything around us seems hopeless. It is about trusting in God's
perfect timing, even when we want things to happen right now.
Endurance is about faith. It is about believing that God is
who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do. It is about
trusting in God's goodness, even when life is hard. It is about believing in
God's love, even when we feel unlovable.
So, how do we endure to the end? We endure by keeping our
eyes fixed on Jesus. By holding onto the promises of God. By standing firm in
our faith, even when the storm rages. By trusting in God's goodness, even when
life is hard. By believing in God's love, even when we feel unlovable.
We endure by leaning on each other. By encouraging each
other. By praying for each other. By lifting each other up. By being the hands
and feet of Jesus to each other.
We endure by clinging to hope. By believing in the promises
of God, even when we cannot see them. By holding onto hope, even when
everything around us seems hopeless.
And we endure by trusting in God's perfect timing. By
believing that He is working all things together for our good, even when we cannot
see it. By trusting that He is in control, even when life feels out of control.
Beloved, let us endure to the end. Let us run with perseverance,
the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter
of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Let us hold
unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews
10:23).
May God give us the strength to endure to the end. May He
give us the courage to stand firm in our faith, the hope to hold on to His
promises, and the love to share with others. And may He bless us with His
peace, His joy, and His presence, now and forevermore. Amen.