It’s A Marathon

It’s a marathon people, not a sprint. The crown of salvation goes to he who endures until the end. The end, by the way, is the time of transition, your bodily death, the termination of presence but not your essence, here on earth.

Jesus said, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13).

The endurance, although it is a trial by fire, is not to be feared, but rather celebrated.

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11)

Peter compares the trial, this life of endurance, to gold.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:6-9)

The end of the endurance of faith is salvation.

Don’t listen to the devil when he whispers, “Once saved, always saved”. He’s trying to get you to loosen your grip on your salvation and rest in the security of self. He’s trying to shift your focus away from Jesus and righteousness and refocus it to the worldly matters at hand.

The devil can get to anyone and inspire them to think and say devilish doctrines. He got to Peter with his doctrine of earthly security. Peter thought he was doing good and tried to save Jesus. But Jesus turned around and barked at Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matthew 16:23)

Avoid the doctrine of “once saved, always saved”. That road leads to death. Understand the parable of the sower.

Understand that you are chosen by God and drawn to Jesus.

“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” (Psalm 65:4)

Yes, it is true what Jesus said in prayer to God. All that God gave Jesus are saved and no one can take them from Him.

But are you saved? The only proof in the pudding is how you lead your life all the way to death. You must endure to the end fighting the good fight of salvation. There are no coffee breaks or time outs in Christianity. A changed nature doesn’t flip flop.

Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” (John 15:16a)

The fruit of salvation must remain within you and manifest with out. You must fruitfully endure unto the end.

Bill Hitchcock