Enduring until the end

We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:9-12

The Book of Hebrews was written to provide encouragement to Christians that are going through tremendous persecution because of their faith in Christ. Some were already questioning if it was worth it to continue to trust God and they were contemplating to returning to their old life and faith. The writer’s purpose is to urge the believers to endure. Was there a time in your life as a believer that you thought of giving up? There were those that gave up and went back to their old life. What the writer of Hebrews was telling Christians that the true believer will not give up. Their focus is on the finish line and not on the starting gate. They knew that God is mindful of how they have been demonstrating to Him their faithfulness. They are able to endure because they trusted the One that gave them their lives. He is the One who started the faith and He assures His children that He will be the one that will sustain their faith. “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Once you set your focus on Him, “you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent” (Hebrews 6:12). You were not saved just to start something but to finish well. Christ had set an example of what finishing well was all about. When He was hanging on the cross, one of Jesus’ word was, “It is finished” (John 19:30). It was a declaration of victory that what He set out to do to save those that will place their trust on His finished work on the cross was accomplished. Just like what Jesus told His disciples, life here on earth will be filled with trials. These trials could bring you to a point of discouragement and despair. But He promised that even in the midst of trials if you will trust Him you will experience the peace that comes from Him. This peace will provide you the confidence to endure until the end. “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Blessings.