Staying the Course

When you hear the words perseverance, endurance, and steadfastness, what image comes to mind? Do you envision a runner completing a marathon? Do you see a mountain climber reaching the peak of Everest? Do you see a child being potty trained or learning to tie their shoes?

What is perseverance? Put simply perseverance is not giving up. Those who persevere have a keep on keeping on attitude. Perseverance is one of the components of a vital faith. 2 Peter 1:5-8 gives us a chain of the necessary elements to maturity: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

Perseverance is central to eternal life. Jesus said, "But the one who endures to the end will be delivered" (Matt. 24:13, HCSB). The author of Hebrews warns,

For you need endurance, so that after you have done God's will, you may receive what was promised. 'For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him (Heb. 10:36-38, HCSB).

James, the brother of Jesus, explains why trials should be the source of joy.  He states,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that yo may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4, NIV).

We should be grateful for testing. Why? Because it develops perseverance. Paul states,

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produce perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Rom. 5:3-5, NIV).

Perseverance pushes us forward. It keeps us moving toward the mark. Like exercise, it turns resistance into muscle. Like study, it sharpens the mind.

Perseverance must complete its work. The maturing process is engrained in the system of life on earth. Puppies are born, and we hope they'll grow to be dogs. Kittens are born, and we hope they'll grow to be cats. Babies are born, and we hope they'll grow up to be healthy, happy citizens.

Without testing, we would develop perseverance. Without perseverance, we wouldn't mature in our faith. We would be incomplete. We would be lacking something. So we are called to keep on keeping on. We push on in faith. We keep building ourselves up in our most holy faith. May it be said of us that we are staying the course.