Endure to the end with Jesus

I’ve been thinking a lot lately of what it means to endure to the end in Jesus. I became a serious follower of Jesus in sixth grade, having experienced God in a very real way. Since then, I knew Jesus was real. I knew He wanted a personal relationship with me. I knew He had a plan for my life. I knew I could trust Him. 

I also was very young and hadn’t experienced much suffering or trials in my life at that point. It was easy to romanticize my “yes” to Jesus and think, “If I say yes to God, then He’s going to give me everything I want… so I better say yes.” 

Now that I’m 35, I can confidently say I still know all of those things despite my life looking nothing like I thought it would. Several intense trials and seasons of hardships have come and gone. When looking at my life, the realness of God has never been more present to me, as well as my absolute need for Him. Not what He can give me, just His very self … I am in desperate need of more of Jesus. 

Without JUST HIM, we cannot persevere in faith until the end. Things will come and go. Dreams will come and some will die. Life will not always look like what you thought it would. Suffering will happen. Trials and hardships are coming. We all will experience extreme moments of deep consolations in Jesus and His presence, as well as deep valleys and pits of desolation and loneliness. That is the human condition.

So what made the Saints persevere until the end? How did the early Christians do it? I’ve been reading Acts and just noticed the language Barnabas, Paul, Silas, and Peter used to encourage the local Church. Words like “remain steadfast,” “persevere,” “stay firm,” are repeated over and over again. I started listing the Bible verses whenever I came across them because these words weren’t just for the early Christian communities, but the words of the Holy Spirit speaking directly to us today. 

Acts 13:43, 14:22; 2 Peter 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Acts 11:23; Colossians 1:23, 24; Hebrews 10:23; 1 Timothy 2:15, 3:9; Hebrews 10:36, 39; 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2:12; Revelation 1:9 — all of these are a few I’ve noted.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the lord your labor is not in vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58

Over and over and over again, the disciples are urging followers of Christ to remain faithful until the end. So how do we remain steadfast? How do we persevere until the end? 

One, we stay close to Jesus. We do not let separation happen. Stay faithful and committed to a daily prayer time. Daily, coming to the Lord with all you have and just being with Him. 

Two, we stay close to the sacraments. We allow ourselves to be cleansed and healed in the sacrament of reconciliation so that we might receive more grace, and we allow ourselves to eat the Living Bread, which is Jesus Himself in the Eucharist — our food for this journey. 

Third, we surround ourselves with a community of believers who can encourage us to remain faithful, who will uplift us when life is low, and who will pray with and for us. 

Fourth, we let our faith move us outward. We cannot stay in our insular bubbles and circles, but our faith must move us to action. 

By following these very four simple steps, I am confident the Lord will finish the good work He has started in each of us. Holiness is not only for a select few, but necessary for everyone. Your mission is to love God and love people and endure until the end by following Jesus who makes a way for this mission to flourish.