by: David Wilkerson
To endure means "to carry through despite hardships; to suffer patiently without giving up." In short, it means to hold on or hold out. But this word means little to the present generation. Many Christians today are quitters—they quit on their spouses, their families and their God.
Peter addresses this subject by saying, "This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully" (1 Peter 2:19). Then he adds, "What glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:20–23).
The apostle Paul commands, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3). Finally, the Lord himself gives us this promise: "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13).
To endure means "to carry through despite hardships; to suffer patiently without giving up." In short, it means to hold on or hold out. But this word means little to the present generation. Many Christians today are quitters—they quit on their spouses, their families and their God.
Peter addresses this subject by saying, "This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully" (1 Peter 2:19). Then he adds, "What glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:20–23).
The apostle Paul commands, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3). Finally, the Lord himself gives us this promise: "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13).
