A Call To Persevere

Christ is our anchor.

We must be reminded of this truth daily. As mentioned last week anchors serve a very important purpose.

Hebrews 6:18–20 NIV

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

When things are not as they seem.

This is what an oxymoron or paradox provides for us. These tools are necessary because in the apparent contradiction we must think through what is right before us.

We are to be walking paradoxes.

Our faith will challenge us to have a different perspective on life, relationships, and the things of this world.

Life is short.

This is part of the reminder of what James is getting across in his introduction. We need wisdom to not only understand this but to live out our brief time in this world.

We are the rich ones.

Comparatively speaking almost all of us here in American are much better off than those in Africa, Middle East, Asia and other parts of the world.

At the heart-remembering our true identity.

James will say later, in not so nice terms, more on the topic of wealth and the rich in the church. There is nothing wrong, inherently, with being rich or poor, but we cannot let our “status” get in the way of our identity in Christ.

God notices our struggles.

God is not aloof or forgetful or unconcerned. God cares about you and me in such a way he willing to give us a “victors crown”.

God is good, gracious and giving.

He is not stingy. He is not ornery. He does not “give with strings attached” per se. He fulfills his promises.

We persevere as we reflect on Christ.

We keep our eyes on the prize.

Perseverance is hard.

This will not be easy. It was not easy then.

Perseverance is counter-cultural.

Our world will not show us this, naturally.

Perseverance is rewarded.

God desires faithfulness in His people.

Will God give me more than I can handle?

We have a saying, which is nice, and sometimes helpful but I think is not Scripturally true. It states, “God will not give me more than I can handle.” For me, the problem is I cannot find anyone, definitely not in James, where the writers make this claim. What they do say is this, God sees your trials. God sees your pain. God is still good and in control. God will reward you if you will keep going on. Remember who Jesus is. See the difference? Our statement focuses our attention on our pain, trial, and discomfort while Scripture focuses on Jesus.