Patience and Perseverance: Why these Matter in Our Walk in Faith?

The Believer’s walk is like an Olympian marathon athlete.  He overcomes the difficult.

If you personally know someone who is training to compete in the Olympic Games, you know that they live what I call a Spartan life.  It is a life devoted to a plan with a resolve to deny themselves anything that takes away or is inconsistent with that goal.  That can mean denying themselves food, drink or activities that will adversely affect or does not contribute to their conditioning and strength.  They live a lifestyle that many of us would not live.  We would say “In that there is no life.” Or, “I would rather have life and enjoy it.”  That Olympian lifestyle begins with and continues as a series of planning and achieving, first, the elementary steps and progressing and repeating from small steps to bigger steps in a process until the goal is achieved. 

Of course, it is futile to dream an Olympic dream if you could not perform to the level of the existing Olympic records.  So, overcoming those records must be part of the plan.  You can imagine the difficulty the prospective Olympian has to go through, the physical training and practice, the mental preparation, the getting over past failures, the conditioning, the diet, the discipline to avoid or deny things, pleasures and the like which distract and are inconsistent with the goal.  Apart from the giftedness, many of us would not or cannot do it.  That is why those who persevered and triumphed truly deserved their medals and the admiration given to them.  

Now, as you can see, the above observation is being made about current situations for current aspirants of an Olympic medal.  But, did you know that 2000 years ago, the same strategy and lifestyle we are describing here were made by the apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews regarding the spiritual walk of a believer.  We were describing a way to win an Olympic medal, which has a material, earthly value but Paul and the writer of Hebrews were describing and challenging us to run a race that rewards us with more than a gold or silver medal.  Let us take a look at these 2 writings below.  

1. In Philippians 3:13, Paul wrote “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
   ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
2.  And, the writer of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 12:1 “…let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily snares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Can you sense that both writers are describing a race, perhaps a marathon?  Yes, the spiritual walk, after salvation can indeed be likened to a marathon.  The idea and comparison are not found in one solitary verse but in many, which gives us an idea of how much God wanted to point this truth to us: 

         To the rich young ruler who asked what he needed to do to have eternal life, the Lord Jesus said to him – 

                  “go, sell your possession, give to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven and, come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21

He left sorrowful not willing to give up his riches, not willing to reorder his walk and direction.   The Lord told him the honest answer to his question,  lay aside the weight (love for material things) that ensnares and run the race towards Him.  By itself, riches is not in itself evil.  Abraham was rich, so was David and so was Job.  But, they knew how to relate to their riches.   Riches was not their master but they mastered over riches and submitted to their true master, God.  By the way, money or riches is not the only thing in life that can enslave or ensnare us.  We are commanded to “love the LORD with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30).  So, when we pursue things of this world such as power, popularity, reputation, career, ambition and other things more than we pursue or value God, then we have replaced God and placed these things to become our gods. Doing so, we are led to a different route, a direction away from God and away from the upward call, the finish line that God wanted us to reach.

      In the letters to the churches in the Book of Revelation, the Lord promised to the overcomers, to the race finishers, to those who repented and heeded the voice of the Lord to persevere till the end.  To those who do, He gives the right -2.1 to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev 2:7); not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:11); to be given some of the hidden manna to eat. He will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name no one knows except him (Rev 2:17); to give him power over the nations (to reign and rule) (Rev 2:26); a new robe, to be clothed in white garments and his name shall not be blotted out from the Book of Life; but the Lord will confess his name before His Father and before His angels (Rev 3:5); to make him a pillar in the temple of God and shall go out no more (Rev 3:12); to grant him to sit with Him (the Lord Jesus) on His throne (Rev 3:21)

All good things!  All priceless!  Don’t you agree?  And not only that.  The Lord reiterates His promise to the overcomers at the end of the Book of Revelation by saying: “He who overcomes, shall inherit all things, and I, Jesus will be his God and he shall be My son. (Rev 21:7)  This status as sons and daughters of the King that He promises to give the overcomers is indeed radical.  A nobody, like me becoming a prince.  It is exceedingly gracious, above and beyond what we can ask or think!

Look at what Paul said in his last message prior to his death: 

           “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the  crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will  give to me on that Day and not to me only  but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Again, we see here that to Paul, this life has been for him a race.  It was a fight, a struggle (spiritual battle) and he finished the race and had kept the faith.  Mind you, he was still alive but he spoke as if all is done.  The race is done. His faith did not waver.  You say, could his faith waver at the death bed.  I don’t think so.  The confidence shown here by Paul is the confidence of one, who by faith, surrendered all and fully trusted the promises of God.  At this stage in life, Paul knew, and rightly so, that he was on his way to his reward and he will shortly receive the crown that the righteous Judge will give him with the highly deserved words “Well done! Good and faithful servant.” 

Notice that Paul clarified his statement in order that his readers will not take it as a boast.  He said that the reward he is looking forward to  receive is not for him only but also for those who have loved His appearing.  The reference is to his fellow believers, you and me, who like him are expectantly waiting for the Lord’s return. Are you anxious to see Him? Or, do you want Him to tarry because there are still things you need to address in your walk?  Let this not be.  Remember, He can come like a thief in the night, in the most unexpected time.  Let us not be found unprepared, especially in sin and in embarrassment.  

Empowered by the Spirit 

How the Olympics separate the medalist from the crowd is by pitting them against each other.  So, the competitor must draw from his own strength, skills and ability. Those that are able to perform higher, faster, better makes it.  So, if an aspirant, after putting all the work, does not measure up, he is eliminated.  No one outside of himself can help.  We have seen that to remedy their lack, some are tempted to resort to performance enhancing drugs.  It is sad but true.  In the spirit realm, it is not so.  Like the Olympics, the race the believer runs may be tough and there could be set-backs, trials and difficulties.  But, He does not leave those in the race on their own, powerless and helplessly bogged down in the middle of it.  He gives, by grace, the power to triumph and endurance to endure that we may finish strong. 

              “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength…but those who wait on the Lord                                      shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary.  They shall walk                                    and not faint.” Isaiah 40: 29-31

Paradoxically, the weak and not the strong, have the upper hand in the spiritual race.  For, it is those who wait on the Lord, who know their limitation and their need of Him who get the help of the Holy Spirit.  Those who call, those who pray, they receive.  So, unlike the race of an Olympic aspirant who relies on his own strength, the wise relies on the Holy Spirit to empower him to persevere and continue to the finish line.  In the Olympics, there are only 3 medals to win.  In the race of faith, as many as are called are in the race.  And, the promises of God is to all who fix their eyes on the upward call of God, to all who finish, to all who overcome.  The grace of God abounds to him who responded to His call, to His invitation. 

This song captures the essence of the focus needed in our race – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6lLYpIUOmY 

That brings me to this fundamental question, “Are you in the race?”  Just like any race, each participant must register and show his intention to run at the starting line.  In this case, have you made that decision?  Have you resolved to accept His invitation to “deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) and run the race which reward is heavenly?  If yes, well and good!  Let us run together and tap into the power who will help us finish this race strong.   If not, it is never too late.  While there is time, come!  Drop every weight and burden (sin) that ensnares.  Remove the blinders from your eyes so that you will see the goal and be on your way to be part of that victory celebration reserved for those who run the race of faith and overcame.