Perseverance

Introduction

Think of something you would like to do — a goal that you would like to accomplish. What would it take for you to accomplish that goal? What is required to reach a goal? Dedication, focus, resiliency, refusal to quit, a belief that failure is another opportunity to try again. We recognize that to attain our goal takes hard work and perseverance. The path of success is not an easy one. The person who wants to succeed in business must push the limits at times to gain the goal. The person who wants to lose weight must fight the demons of desire to win. The high school student must demonstrate academic standards above the norm to receive the scholarship. Those who want to raise good children must spend time with them. Whatever the goal, a desire to succeed must exceed the desire to quit.

Have you ever thought about our Christian walk requiring a desire to succeed more than to quit? We talk about perseverance, but do we really know what that means in our Christian walk? Salvation is from God, but walking in faith requires our perseverance. 2 Thessalonians was written within months if not weeks of the first letter. With the first letter having been written, it had to be delivered. The deliverer would have stayed in Thessalonica for a time and then returning to Paul would have reported what had been seen and said. This second letter is a response to the problems going on in the church.

There is little difference in the subject matter between the two letters. The main issue is the return of Christ. Paul takes the first two chapters to further clarify some questions about Christ’s return. The third chapter is an admonition about how the Thessalonians are to live in light of Christ’s return. Paul goes to great lengths to give more insight into Christ’s return so that these new Christians can remain focused on how they are to live as they wait for Christ to return. The point of chapter one is simply this --- persevere in your walk with God. Glorify Christ in the way you live. When Christ returns he will reward those who are his and punish those who do not belong to him. While we wait for his return, live lives which demonstrate faith and a high purpose. As we expand our study this morning we will be encouraged to persevere in our walk with God; to remember that we have a goal which demands a desire to succeed more than a desire to quit.

Justice

Paul begins this letter with one long sentence. It is almost as if he is overflowing with things to say and doesn’t want to lose momentum. He thanks God for their growing faith and love. He had prayed for God to bring an increase in their love in 1 Thess. 3:11 and God has answered that prayer. He also says that he boasts about their perseverance and faith as demonstrated in the face of persecution and trials. While Acts 17 gives us some insight into what these were originally, we don’t know the form or intensity of these difficulties now. The word persecution means there are some physical and verbal assaults they are going through. Yet, they persevere in their walk with God. They are not giving up their relationship with Jesus just because of difficulties.

Paul says this is proof of God’s just choice and that they are worthy to be a part of the kingdom. Paul doesn’t mean that the way they live is gaining their salvation but rather that their perseverance is an indication that they are serious about their walk with God. Paul says their suffering is not fruitless. When Christ returns he will bring trouble for those who do the persecuting and relief to the persecuted. This is just. This is right. This is fair. God’s decision to reward and punish is fair and equitable. This has nothing to do with vindictiveness. This is a fair consequence for choices made. When Jesus returns (v.8), God will punish those who do not know him and those who do not obey the gospel. Two separate groups are mentioned. What does Paul mean?

Those who do not know God are similar to those mentioned in Romans 1. Every person has within them this sense of right and wrong. They can look around and see creation and know that randomness is not the answer. Instead of pursuing what was from God, they chose instead to pursue their own foolish desires.

Those who do not obey the gospel are those who have heard about Jesus and have not given their lives to him. These are the ones who know the truth and have had the truth explained but choose instead to ignore the truth or not to obey it. Such a choice will result in punishment.

The punishment will be to be shut out of the presence of God (v.9). Those who choose to follow their own desires will not be in the presence of God and will not be able to share in his majesty. The decision to not follow Christ has consequences and God will carry out those consequences when Christ returns. There will be no reason to plead your case. God will carry out the decision you made. C.S. Lewis in his book “The Great Divorce” puts it this way: There are only two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.” Paul’s words are to encourage these young Christians to persevere in their walk with God. So what lessons are there for us to learn from this text?

Tension

First, faith is best seen in tension. There is tension in our world. The tension is seen in the political realm, but underneath that kingdom is the tension between right and wrong. Those who speak of truth and right are judged to be judgmental. The word “wrong” is leaving our vocabulary because it puts people off. Look at verse 7. The word “relief” means to be set free from restraints and tension. Here’s the point. In order for there to be relief there must be tension. We are not surprised when our walk with God is challenged. We are not surprised when there is injustice. We are not surprised when there are unethical practices. We are not surprised when there is a grab for power. But that is when our faith is seen. Let others fret. We take our anxiety and turn it into praise. We walk with a God who has already promised what he will do. He will make it right. This is not easy. In fact, it may be costly. But our faith is best seen when there is tension between us and the world.

Second, this tension will last until Christ returns. Notice again verse 7. This tension doesn’t go away until Christ returns. This life isn’t easy because of our faith and our walk with God. It is hard. We are not immune to the events of this world and we lament poor choices made and the consequences of such, but we walk confidently with God who has assured us that our perseverance in faith will bring its own reward. Just as Jesus prayed, so we pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray for God’s influence in this world and then we demonstrate the reality that God is in us in how we talk, walk, and care. Call for people to look up and see the God that you know loves and cares. Let them see that truth by the conduct of your life.

There will be times when we aren’t sure it’s worth continuing. There will be times when we think giving up might be easier. There will be times when temptations are real and holding on to God is difficult.

It is in those times that perseverance is required. And it is in those times that we discover that our faith is real. The real mark of perseverance is when our desire to succeed outlasts our desire to quit. Perseverance means we push, pull, sweat, plug away, keep hitting until the Lord returns. Do we do this for ourselves? Absolutely not. According to verse 12 we persevere so that others may see Christ in us.

We are to live so that the Lord Jesus may be glorified in our lives and we in him. People are supposed to see that Jesus is a wonderful Savior by the conduct of our lives. And when he returns there will be relief. When Jesus returns we will marvel at Jesus. There will be horns blowing and fire and angels and for some it will be chaos, but for the ones who persevere it will be relief. Until that day, our lives are to reflect the One who has called us to be his.

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