As a pastor and a man of faith, I believe that perseverance is a vital aspect of our walk with God. It's not just about hanging on, but about refusing to believe that our hero, Jesus Christ, will be defeated. Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated, and the very things He stood for - love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness - will be lost. Perseverance is our supreme effort to overcome this fear and to stand firm in our faith.
In the midst of suffering, perseverance becomes a necessary skill. As the Bible says, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance" (Rom. 5:3). This is a crucial point, as perseverance is not just about making it through life until we die, but about persevering in faith and obedience, even when life is very hard. It's about asking ourselves, "Today, how will I represent God? How will I trust Him and follow Him in obedience?" And it's about seeking help from others, crying out to the Lord, and looking for opportunities to love.
Ultimately, perseverance is grounded in divine strength and preservation. As the Bible says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:2-3). And as Paul says to Timothy, "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier" (2 Tim. 2:3). By persevering in faith, we can rest secure in the assurance that our salvation is permanent, and that nothing can separate us from the love of God.