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“…he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
–– Matthew 10:22
Dear Friends,
It should greatly comfort and encourage us that, in spite of all denial and rejection of Christ in this world, He still is Lord of all. We are reminded of it even in the numbering of our years: 2009 Anno Domino (the year of the Lord)!
Is this your comfort that He owns it, that all power is given to Him, to bring all things to pass as decreed by His and our heavenly Father? Perhaps you have much anxiety and worry. But do you really believe that both blessings and afflictions are sent by Christ so you may know Him as the Savior of sinners? He delights to do His Father’s will and has no pleasure in our death, but that we should repent and believe Him. He is the One, the only Savior. He not only came to be born, but to live and to die, to be victorious over sin and death. He is Lord over all people and circumstances, also in AD 2009!
He owns it, despite man’s attempts to remove Him and His followers from the scene. They hate Him, as they hate all who love and obey Him, as in Matthew 10:22, “ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
You see how endurance to the end is closely connected to being hated for Jesus’ sake! Or, as the context shows, related to us being sent “forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” Though we perhaps at times desire to withdraw from a society that is so rapidly declining morally, and try to live quietly and unnoticed by others who don’t know and appreciate God’s Word and favorable presence, we know that is not the answer.
We must be separate from the world and keep ourselves “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27), but on the other hand we are to be in the midst of it. “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2).
How do we prove that perfect will of God? That we persevere to the end, for “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Not that we can do this in our own strength, for we lack both ability and will to even begin to do what is right and pleasing in God’s sight. As the world blatantly sins itself unto death, we would zealously work ourself unto death. It seems commendable, but Paul says of such, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Tim. 3:5). In other words, it is not only our worst that condemns us, but our very best falls short of God’s glory. Only Christ’s perfection is acceptable to God, and so God will accept us and our works only by faith in Him.
So, what is it to endure? It is to continue to look to Christ and trust in Him alone, and so become more and more like Him. If we so confess Him in word and deed, guided by His Spirit, sinners will repent and be drawn to Christ, or be hardened and hate Him, as He said in John 15:18, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”
May Christ’s goodness and sufficiency be seen in us in how we respond to afflictions and discouragements as well as to blessings and prosperity. May it be seen in how we deal with each other and react to each other at home, at work, in school, in church and in our neigborhood. May others see in us that we “have been with Jesus.” So that when the world hates us, it is only because we, like the Lord Jesus, go “about doing good.”
This is our prayer and wish for you all, that by His grace and Spirit, you will endure to the end. Be much in God’s Word, in meditation and in prayer. God is pleased to bless all who so treasure His own Testimony.
With love in Christ,
Pastor Foppe VanderZwaag