Perseverance is defined as “steady persistence in a course of action; a purpose, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.” Unfortunately, it appears that we are living in a day and age where it seems that many are choosing to throw in the towel and just give up. As Christ-followers, we are called to have perseverance in our walk of faith as we follow after Christ and His plan for our lives. So why are we giving up?
AtkinsCould it be that we don’t really have a “steady persistence in a course of action” when it comes to our daily time with Him? For years, people have talked about their daily quiet time and daily prayer time as if it were just a box to be checked off on a church record sheet in Sunday school. Nowhere in the Bible do we see where we are told to simply “check off” our alone time with the Father. Instead, we are told to study the Scriptures and to go to a private place and seek to know Him more intimately.
Could it be that we don’t really have “a purpose” for why we are doing the things we are doing in our churches and in our private lives? Have we become so enamored by our year-end numbers for baptisms, new members, and mission endeavors – which we report to the convention – that we have forgotten the real reason behind those numbers? We have been called to be light in a dark world and to bring flavor to a tasteless society; that is our purpose, not to just generate mere numbers on a year-end report.
Could it be that we have surrendered territory of the kingdom because we did not have perseverance, “especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement”? My fear is that too many Christians have allowed the enemy to trick them into believing that when things get too hard, they are supposed to just say, “Well, we tried.” God help us if we ever lack perseverance under the mindset of “Well, we tried.”
There are those who would say that things are just too hard in the day we live in and that it used to not be this hard. I say the real issue is that too many Christians have just gotten too soft. Things have always been hard for those who follow after Christ and there have always been difficulties. The difference will come when we choose to get firm in what we say we believe and then take a stand in spite of the difficulties or obstacles that may come our way.
Great Commission Living in 2012 will demand that you, as an individual Christ-follower, exhibit perseverance in your daily walk of obedience to Christ and His will for your life. If you choose to have these attributes, we will all see God do an amazing thing – not only in South Carolina, but all around the world as the gospel is preached and lives are changed for all of eternity.
– Atkins is pastor of Powdersville First Baptist Church and president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.