Perseverance

A little back story. I’ve been a follower of Jesus for 50 years. During that time, both of my parents died before I reached twenty-five. My first wife left me. I was asked to resign from a ministry position because of my divorce. My current wife’s parents were beaten and left for dead on Valentine’s Day weekend in 2009. They survived but were never the same physically or emotionally. In the past dozen years, I’ve been diagnosed with two incurable (but treatable) diseases. I’ve been disparaged by some people I counted as friends, and have had people rebel against my leadership and slander me because they did not agree with decisions or positions I have taken.

To say the least, my path following Jesus has not always been an easy one. But thanks be to God that though there were people in my life who let me down, though I many times let myself down, and my hopes and expectations of life have sometimes fallen short of what I anticipated, I have persevered in my faith.

Perseverance is a key component of faith. The Scriptures testify to this over and over. The devil’s intent is to “steal, kill, and destroy.” And he will be successful if we do not persevere through all that he throws at us.

Listen to the words of Jesus: “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

And Paul’s words reflect a similar understanding: “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel” (Colossians 1:22-23 Emphasis added).

James also chimes in with this: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

Other Scriptures maintain the same position that salvation is dependent on us persevering through whatever life throws at us and holding onto our faith in Jesus. (See I Corinthians 15:2; I Timothy 1:18-19; and Hebrews 3:6)

Over the years, I have seen many former students and others turn away from the Lord. Some were hurt by experiences in local churches. Others were lured away by worldly desires. Still others could not come to terms with how their lives had turned out. I often pray for them that their hearts will open up to the Lord once again because I know their salvation is in danger. It will be the Lord who determines that, but the Scriptures are clear that we must persevere in our faith to gain the eternal prize.

Again, I am so grateful to the Lord that I have persevered for a half-century in my faith. It hasn’t been easy nor always pretty, but I’ve never been tempted to abandon my faith as a result of things that happened to me in life.

Jesus never promised an easy life following Him. Thus, we shouldn’t expect it. But rather we should persevere through whatever we may face, knowing that if we do, we will gain the eternal prize we hope for.

© Jim Musser 2025 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.