Luke 21:19
“By your,
endurance
you will
gain
your lives.”
Surrounding this verse Jesus is talking
about the last times. He has just finished telling the disciples of
all the unrest that will be in the physical world, natural disasters,
and in the political world, wars and famine. He says they will be
brought before all manner of authorities and it will be an
opportunity to bear witness. He told them to settle it in their minds
not to prepare a defense when this happens, but that He would give
them a mouth and wisdom, and a wisdom that none of their enemies
would be able to withstand or contradict. Then Jesus tells them a
shockingly painful truth, He tells the disciples their closest
friends and family, would betray them, even putting some of them to
death. Next He says that His disciples will be hated by all for His
name's sake.
It has been said “Faithless is he
who turns back when the road darkens.” How many of us would be able
to sit there and listen to Jesus? Maybe we'd think you don't really
mean that, that won't happen. And if we did believe Him, how many of
us would be like, ok Jesus, that's nice but too much for me to handle
so see you later. Would I do that? Have I already been that faithless
friend? To be honest I would say every time I have resisted the Holy
Spirit drawing me towards someone to speak with or comfort them, is a
time that I was faithless.
And I must apologize to all of you
because I have often shied away from talking with many of you when I
felt myself being drawn by God to say something. Even something so
small as how are you today?
We have talked a lot about fear this
week, and that has been the reason I often hold back from saying
things. Fear of bothering a person, fear of being a distraction to
what God is doing, fear of failing, fear of God's anger, fear, fear,
fear. Yes, I said I have been delivered from a lot of fear, but there
are as I also said little fears that still crop up in my life. I must
squelch these quickly or else they become bigger. Pastor G has
brought up that perfect love cast out fear. As I remember God's love
for me I am able to toss out the constant fear of stepping on God's
toes. As I look at God's love my fear of failure becomes pail in
comparison. When I think of God's love I stop worrying about
bothering the person and start wishing to encourage them. So fixing
my eyes on Jesus, on His love, on His victory, on Him, is key.
Because when I set my mind on my self,
I see only my shortcomings, my lack of love, losses. And that leaves
me in a place, a pit that I cannot escape with out some outside
force. Which thankfully God has been. This is all important to our
theme this week, because fear can dissuade us from persevering.
Lets look back at the text the verse
directly proceeding our verse of the day says “But not a hair of
your head will perish.” Jesus just got done laying out the
persecution they would undergo, and that some of them would be put to
death. What on earth does this text mean? It would almost seem a
direct contradiction.
There are two conclusions I can draw
from this, first is that a man is bulletproof until God takes Him
home, second as I view it in context with the verse of today, I would
conclude it is speaking to the spiritual man.
“By your endurance” How does one
endure? What does it look like? I spoke of perseverance, which is
seemingly synonymous with endurance. When I think of enduring, I
mostly think of enduring pain. To take hit after hit, to be jarred,
beaten, or mocked over and over, isolated, without going mad or
giving up. Jesus endured, and the apostles endured, and we must
endure. I also think enduring must have a goal, or end. Why would
would someone endure repetitive pain, unless there was a reason for
it. An athlete endures the pains of training to receive a prize. Now
to what end does Jesus say we endure? To gain our lives. I believe
this speaks to spiritual lives, and not in whether or not we gain or
lose salvation (although this is possible) so much as to the joyful
and abundant life we have in Him. As we endure trials and
temptations, as we persevere and set our eyes on Jesus, a marvelous
change happens in us. And an abundant, and joyful life follows. “so
we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away our inner
self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction
is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison.” 2nd Corinthians 4:16-17
Not to mention Further down in our text
in verse 28 it says when these things happen “Straighten up and
raise your heads” Pay attention, Why “because your redemption is
drawing near.”
Your Redemption is drawing near! How
wonderful! How beautiful!
When Jesus endured the cross it was for
the joy set before Him. When we endure it is for the same reason, the
joy set before us is life in Christ, and hope of Eternity in Heaven
with Him.
Application
Take eyes off self, and place on Jesus.
How?
Today I will Worship Jesus or pray to
Him when I am faltering, I will pick someone specific to keep me
accountable.
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