We’ll Work...the Wayfarer 6/29/16

We’ll Work
 6/29/16

James 1:9-12

King James Version (KJV)

⁹ Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

¹⁰ But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

¹¹ For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

¹² Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Endurance… a word often used in describing athletes and their prowess, too seldom used in conjunction with the requirements of faith.

This word, is defined by Webster’s as; 1. Permanence, duration. 2. The ability to withstand hardship, adversity or stress 3. Suffering trial.

On the surface, the only portion of that definition holding a positive connotation would be the first and most important of the three given by Webster.

Permanence! Duration. Something that lasts over time despite the wear and tear of daily life and use of energy.

Battery commercials tout the endurance of the products sold depicting that product’s ability to last longer than others of its type hoping that it will boost sales to those in need of that product for whatever purpose it is put to use.

Vehicle commercials tout that same quality as a reminder that there will be a necessity for what has been bought to have the ability to last long enough to be worth the price that has been paid for them.

Endurance becomes an important quality when the lack of that endurance has been experienced too often in products intended by the purchaser to last, fail, requiring replacement and further expenditure.

In athletes, any lack of endurance results in failure to win competitions.

In soldiers, lack of endurance results in failure to accomplish missions of importance, and too often in the death of either themselves or others because of the necessity to “keep on keeping on” long enough to attain the desired result of a mission, tantamount to surrender to failure before that mission is even begun.

To assure that endurance exists, constant training is demanded. Trials are met through that training, that when done properly, make the execution of the mission automatic, never consenting to failure, never acknowledging the possibility of failure because of the work done constantly to avoid that possibility.

A hymn that caught my attention, along with the scripture that maintains that attention, came to mind immediately as the morning began once more with a barrage of negative news being aired reflecting the ongoing physical attack on Christians and Christianity both across the span of the globe, and within the confines of the tiny portion of that globe which I inhabit.

We’ll work till Jesus comes

O land of rest, for thee I sigh!
When will the moment come
When I shall lay my armor by
And dwell in peace at home?

(chorous)
We’ll work till Jesus comes
We’ll work till Jesus comes
We’ll work till Jesus comes
And we’ll be gathered home

To Jesus Christ I fled for rest
He bade me cease to roam
And lean for comfort on His breast
Till He conduct me home
(chorous)
I sought at once my Savior’s side
No more my steps shall roam
With Him I’ll brave death’s chilling tide
And reach my heav’nly home

(chorous)

Work! Another of those small words, another four letter word considered by too many inappropriate for use within a vocabulary full of four letter words holding no meaning, holding no power that could ever be its equal!

A word that must, of necessity accompany that longer word mentioned in the opening, endurance.

That short word connotes an expenditure of effort, facilitated by the weariness that comes with that effort, that must be overcome to continue, despite any sweat excreted, despite the soreness developed as muscle is built, in order to attain something of value worthy of what has been given for it.

Jesus endured the criticism of the “elect” of His time, endured the constant harangue and harassment of those who refused to believe the simple message of redemption for repentance, endured the lies that brought Him to trial, then endured the cross itself in order to complete the work set before Him by the Father that made that simple message possible for all of mankind.

The apostles all endured, throughout the remainder of their lives, those same persecutions given by the unbelieving to assure that the WORD was delivered intact and whole to the world for whom it was intended.

The LOVE both given and demanded by Christ Jesus has also endured, and endures despite the effort required for that endurance.

Defeat is easily conceded by the defeated.

Defeat is never conceded by the victorious.

That victory did not come without a price, and is not maintained without a price.

Matthew 10:19-24

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

²⁰ For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

²¹ And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

²² And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

²³ But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

²⁴ The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

As we face each new assault, each new danger, each old and ongoing persecution, endurance is required, and with that endurance must come the expenditure of the required work as well.

Recognition must be given to that requirement of endurance, particularly when faced by the surrender of so many around us who refuse to see the necessity for either the endurance or work required.

Disciples cannot change the teachings of the Master to conform to fit their desires simply because of a refusal to exert the work and endurance required. 

Servants serve the wishes of their lord, and serve what is given as reward by that lord.

Nations serve one of two lords, too often choosing the one that asks no endurance, and whose work is hidden within the sugarcoated false promises offered in their stead.

The same applies to each individual that comprises those nations.

The promised hatred is evident, the promised necessity of endurance is evident.

Choice must be made.

Endure as demanded by Christ Jesus, refusing to surrender to the defeat demanded by the failure to honor that demand, or submit to the defeat because of an unwillingness to exert the required work.

In closure, once more despite repetitiveness I am reminded by a statement of Paul’s that I echo wholeheartedly in recognition of the victory already attained.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer