Hebrews’ Call to Persevere

Life will tempt us, treat us, and test us,
All we can do is make our response in faith,
That or make nothing of God’s salvation,
It’s up to us to make sure we are safe.
Taking in the knowledge of Jesus, the Son,
We know that salvation’s work has been done,
Our spiritual task is to revere,
And through the Spirit of his Son to persevere.

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The believer’s call is to persevere; in the midst of fear, discouragement, despair, broken dreams, the truth, reality’s harshness, and conflict. We don’t endure by taking the law into our own hands, but we do so in confidence, that we are able to endure by the power given us – through the direct authority and access we have as a believer.

We are granted a new and living way because of what Jesus has done on the cross, through his resurrection, and by his ascension to be with the Father. This is no fabrication of something that sounds real; it may truly be experienced.

Because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our bodies have indeed been washed clean, we have the full assurance of faith, through integrity – a sincere heart to follow hard after God.

We hold fast to our hope, which is the confession of our faith. So we endure when life is despairing, to receive what is promised. And we are stimulated to love by courage to encourage others as they bear the strains of life. Love compels us to remain connected to our brothers and sisters.

But we are also warned not to go out of our way to sin. If we hurt people and create harm we spurn the truth and God does not know us. We stand there open for his judgment; what a fearful thing to contemplate! In earlier times, people were put to death for lesser things than we might contemplate for ‘fun’.

If we understand what we have been given, and we truly recognise the inner strength we have because of God’s holiness in us by the Holy Spirit, then we know we can endure patiently any temptation, treat, and test. Let us do just that! Whether we suffer directly or indirectly, or we suffer as we watch on in the presence of heinous injustice, we resolve to suffer well; to comprehend the call of God to endure, just as Jesus did on the cross of Golgotha.

There is just one way to please God; “my righteous one will live by faith.”

There is no pleasure taken by God in watching us stop or slow down halfway through the race. Keep stepping in faith. Keep life simple. Enjoy the grateful things and remove temptation to complain and become bitter. Stay clear of the enemy.

© 2014 S. J. Wickham.