Perseverance: Part VI

Let's put our principle of perseverance in perspective.

Paul considered his mission as being, "all for not," if he did not gain Christ in the process. While he undoubtedly displays a model for perseverance, his mission was personal; but only successful if it had eternal value. Of course; the evidence speaks for itself. But his relationship with, and in Christ, is what caused it to be successful.

Because of his relationship with Christ, Paul was able to reach people. He had guidance in the form of visions. God allowed him to perform miracles so that others would believe. His attitude was righteous, his works, eternal and his mission was fulfilled. All in God's time, and with God's favor. We should remember that this was all done with Paul experiencing more hardship in twenty years than most of us will endure in a lifetime.

Matthew 17:20 provides a foundation going back to what I laid out in Parts I & II. "[Jesus] He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

We see in the verses just previous to this passage, where Matthew has recorded Jesus removing the spirit of the devil from a young boy who was demon-possessed. He was brought to the disciples by his father, but they were unable to drive the evil spirit from him.

There is unsurmountable power in faith. Having a belief and faith in Jesus brings to us a supernatural, eternally divine, place of power. You and I may never move a mountain by speaking to it, but is it possible? We see in Matthew 17:20 that it is.

Additional supporting evidence of faith, and having no doubt in the power that can be (provided we have a relationship with Christ and a belief in God the Father) bestowed on us by having an eternal mindset is found in Matthew 21:21. Jesus has cursed a fig tree along the road, and it will never again bear fruit. He reinforces what was recorded in Matthew 17:20.

Matthew 21:21-22 says, "Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

In these three verses in Matthew, we see three of the five parts of the equation that I have laid out for employing the principle of perseverance:  faith, belief and no doubt.

The question becomes, "How can I have a clear eternal view so that I can be more successful in my mission for God?"

Once again, we see a complex question which requires a "deep dive;" biblically speaking. So let's start with the basics.

I can make the claim that most all have heard of the Trinity. God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The foundational requirement to having an eternal world view, begins with a belief in God. It then requires a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And finally, being able to acknowledge and learn to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity, the eternal 3-in-1 Godhead is where belief and faith must start.

Personally, I believe that being able to recognize the importance of, and resources available by way of the Holy Spirit is the toughest part of the Trinity to harness. More on that in another chapter.

Having perspective within the principles being shared in this book is critical. With respect to perseverance, the fulfillment of our mission will not be riddled with going to-and-fro, back-and-forth along our proverbial road, if we can achieve an eternal view.

In one of my favorite classes in college, we were tasked with taking on the view of others. We first studied Freud, so we were ask to put on our "Freudian Glasses." All semester, we did this with not only Freud, but many other prominent figures that molded and shaped the foundation for the practice of psychology.

So how do we put on the "glasses" of Christ?

Start with belief and faith. To acquire someone else's view, it requires a parallel belief. Then, look for opportunities to see the world in the way that Jesus might see it. I realize that we cannot walk and talk with Him. We were not placed on earth two-thousand years ago in Jerusalem. But we can have Him with us as we walk, and talk with Him all day long as we go about our day.

My challenge for you today is to walk and talk with Jesus. As I write this morning, I am reminded to challenge myself. So we are in this together. Talk with Him. Let Him walk where you walk.

And finally, remember "Footprints." For those of you who are not familiar, it is a poem about how God walks with us. The picture behind is that of "footprints" on a beach. And when there is only one set of "Footprints"  in the sand, that is when God is carrying us.

Try having a "running" discussion with Jesus today. Then sit back (rhetorically speaking) and see what unfolds, as you don "the Glasses of Christ."