Triggering Point
Not long ago, it was on Friday, April 22, 2016 while reading The Desire of Ages, I came across a certain portion talking about the disciples of Jesus, which reads: “They blamed themselves for yielding so readily to His command. They reasoned that if they had been more persistent they might have accomplished their purpose.” –The Desire of Ages. p. 379. Even though, in that context, the persistence was in a negative direction because they regretted that they had not persisted in refusing to yield to Christ’s purpose, the statement triggered me to study more on the importance of the subject of persistence, as Christian runners. Finally, conviction gained ground that some portions of the stories dealing with this subject of persistence should be gathered together, and then arranged as a lesson format for our benefit as God’s family.
Persistence, as done by faith, is marked in the Bible as one trait that a Christian must definitely have, not only if he is to be successful in this life, but also in his quest for eternal life. No time, I believe, has there been in the past, when such persistence was needed as now. As we study, we discover that words such as: constancy, patience, perseverance, and steadfastness, are synonymous with persistence.
A Warning Right from the Onset
For fear of repeating past mistakes, (ours or those of others), we must quickly mention here that persistence must be directed only to, or on, what is right. We must know on what we must persist, and on what we must not persist. Take, for example, the case of Lucifer. When God bore long with him in heaven, the latter pointed to the patience of the earlier as evidence that his claims were true. He urged his angels that must they be more persistent; God will concede to their demands.
“A compassionate Creator, in yearning pity for Lucifer and his followers, was seeking to draw them back from the abyss of ruin into which they were about to plunge. But His mercy was misinterpreted. Lucifer pointed to the long-suffering of God as an evidence of his own superiority, an indication that the King of the universe would yet accede to his terms. If the angels would stand firmly with him, he declared, they could yet gain all that they desired. He persistently defended his own course, and fully committed himself to the great controversy against his Maker. Thus it was that Lucifer, ‘the light bearer,’ the sharer of God’s glory, the attendant of His throne, by transgression became Satan, ‘the adversary.’” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 39
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12: 7–9
So, beware of persisting in sinful pursuits and the lust of it thereof, for sin will forever separate you from God!
Persistent unto Victory
Now that we have read the warning above, we are free to discuss those that persisted and overcame the world.
Long tortured by his conscience was the patriarch Jacob so that he desperately longed for relief—an assurance from heaven that his sin had been forgiven. He had just made his supplications before the God of heaven and took some steps to avert any possible danger before him, and then he was alone at a place which, after his victory, he called Peniel. Suddenly, he finds himself wrestling with a man. As he later discovers, it was a divine being and he sees it as a token of divine deliverance! He persists on clinging to Him, even after the dislocation of his bone. To the plea: “Let me go, for the day breaketh,” he maintains the answer: “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” Genesis 32:26. So it was that Jacob the deceiver became the victorious Israel (Hosea 12:4.).
“The violence here meant [Matthew 11:12] is a holy earnestness, such as Jacob manifested. We need not try to work ourselves up into an intense feeling, but calmly, persistently, we are to press our petitions at the throne of grace. Our work is to humble our souls before God, confessing our sins, and in faith drawing nigh unto God. . . . It is the design of God to reveal Himself in His providence and in His grace.” –That I May Know Him, p. 272
“We could then approach the mercy seat; and seeing the bow of promise, kneel with contrite hearts, and seek the kingdom of heaven with a spiritual violence that would bring its own reward. We would take it by force, as did Jacob.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1089
Persistence and our Relationship with God
“But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.” Luke 24:29–31
“During the journey the sun had gone down, and before the travelers reached their place of rest, the laborers in the fields had left their work. As the disciples were about to enter their home, the stranger appeared as though He would continue His journey. But the disciples felt drawn to Him. Their souls hungered to hear more from Him. ‘Abide with us,’ they said. He did not seem to accept the invitation, but they pressed it upon Him, urging, ‘It is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ Christ yielded to this entreaty and ‘went in to tarry with them.’
“Had the disciples failed to press their invitation, they would not have known that their traveling companion was the risen Lord. Christ never forces His company upon anyone. He interests Himself in those who need Him. Gladly will He enter the humblest home, and cheer the lowliest heart. But if men are too indifferent to think of the heavenly Guest, or ask Him to abide with them, He passes on. Thus many meet with great loss. They do not know Christ any more than did the disciples as He walked with them by the way.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 800
A certain widow was living in a city in which there was an unjust judge (Luke 18:2–6). She pressed her demand on the judge persistently and the scripture says of the unjust judge: “but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” Luke 18:4–5. At the beginning of the chapter (verse 1), the writer tells us why Jesus gave that particular parable. “That men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Jesus concludes the parable by saying that there will be an answer by the heavenly Father to all who seek Him earnestly and persistently in faith.
“Faith is an essential element of prevailing prayer. ‘He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.’ ‘If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.’ Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 5:14–15. With the persevering faith of Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, we may present our petitions to the Father, claiming all that He has promised. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 157
The Saviour said: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35–39
Having expounded on several worthies of faith, the Apostle Paul finds himself short of time and resolves to just listing the remaining ones (Hebrews 11:32). With him we may say “and what shall we more write? For space would fail us to write of: Ruth who persisted in following her mother-in-law, and deciding that Naomi’s people will be her people, and her God her God, till death (Ruth 1:16–17). Ruth is “slotted into” the genealogy of Jesus (Ruth 4:13–22). A gentile Moabite became part of the progenitor of the Messiah! And also of Elisha also who insisted on following Elijah the prophet (2 Kings 2:1–13), and thus ended up being endowed with a double portion of the prophet Elijah’s spirit (verse 15). He is ranked in the line of great men of God where we need to find our place.
Persistent unto Salvation
As we conclude this wonderful lesson, let us come to the point of persistence as linked to our salvation.
Winston Churchill is known for his speech in which all he said was: “Never, give up,” before taking his seat.
Persistence saves. Lot was saved by it. “And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.” Genesis 19:2–3
“And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. ” Genesis 19:12–13
In His letter to the Hebrew believers, the Apostle Paul encourages them not to go back or give up. He refers to the soon coming of Jesus when he says: “For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:37–39
As we meditate on these words in our time, we again hear the wonderful words of our Savior from the Mount of Olives as He refers to the time of the end just before His coming. He says: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure [persist] unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:12–13. Amen.
Joel L. Msiska, Malawi