I could not help but let my mind wander to another question that I am sure many of you have asked and struggled with. Why does God let bad things happen to good people? One example is of course Job. Those of us who have read and studied that book know that God did intervene and why, and Job was tested severely. I have a rather peculiar line of thought that involves a very simple theory………life happens. It is what happens after the intrusion of a bad thing in our life that I believe brings about a  God powered blessing that we often over look. That blessing is Endurance. With Endurance, add hope and perseverance. I am not of the belief that God is in the business of hurt and hard times. Our actions or lack of can sometimes lead to bad decisions which have consequences. So that explains in some way my belief, life  just happens. It is not unreasonable to believe that our God is in control, what is sometimes hard is the realization that no mortal man  knows the mind of God. There is the endurance of athletic competitors, the seriously ill, those struggling to feed their families and many more examples to numerous to mention. Christian commitment, is easily understood in the example of determination to endure in the face of life’s difficulties along with the hostility, persecution, and the death of Jesus and his disciples, this endurance of Christians in the face of persecution and temptation underlies most the New Testament.

It is not all that complicated when you understand the fact that the early Christians were not all that good in withstanding the times of persecution and temptations that were so common and overwhelming in their day.  We are reminded of the repeated failures of Israel to maintain faithfulness to God.  The New Testament writers  used these examples to provide Paul and others strong warnings of how not to behave. As is my habit here is the dictionary meaning of Endurance.

1: the ability to withstand hardship or adversity especially : the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity

 2: the act or an instance of enduring or suffering

 There seems to be for many of us a willingness to quietly accept what life throws at us accepting these bad times as just karma, a popular buzz word these days. For those of the way there is this thing I call Christian Endurance. Endurance of this type is characterized by a commitment of looking to Christ in the bad times of our lives. Endurance, should be an important part of our Christian faith. We can and will get through the bad times if we will just remember:

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

We serve a God whose love, grace and forgiveness is an inherent part of the endurance and faith expected of every Christian. We should all ask ourselves in every life situation this question.

John 6:68  “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  

True commitment endures by looking to Christ for the resources and the way that secures our faith and salvation as well as peace of mind, body and soul. To endure, to persevere, to hope we must have a strong prayer life. We cannot do it alone. Prayer is an important part of our Christian armour. Endure in Christ’s Name, AMEN

Life is Good

jk