Enduring Faith

Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." KJV

These are very difficult and trying times. Undoubtedly, we are living in what the Bible calls the "last days" or the "beginning of sorrows." If you are one of those who think that "this too will pass" and in a few years "the good times" will resume again...you are being optimistically foolish. Oh yes, there might be a few times ahead where it looks like things are getting better and the worst is behind us, but "the birth pains" (Matthew 24:8) as Jesus described it will continue becoming more frequent and greater in intensity until His glorious return.

So how should we live then in the midst of these last days? Jesus says "...he that shall endure unto the end...shall be saved." It's going to take enduring faith to be victorious in the end.

Now you might be thinking "Wow, that sounds hard. I may not have what it takes to endure until the end? I struggle enough during the easy and good times, much less the hard times!"

But let remind you today that if you are in relationship with Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father will give us the ability to endure to the end by His Spirit. No, we cannot do it ouselves, but we can through Christ.

I love Psalms 33:18-22 that says, "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee." KJV

Yes, God will give you enduring faith for the times ahead no matter how difficult they may be. Remember, the words of Jennifer (last week's blog) "there is no panic in the throne room." Yes, people in the world may fear, panic, and mourn as calamity strikes, but our hope and trust is in Christ! The Psalm says OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE BECAUSE WE TRUST IN IN THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD! We move, we live, we have our being in Him (Acts 17:28). As we live in Christ, He alone gives enduring faith.