Quality of Faith 4: Perseverance

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were given an ultimatum by King Nebuchadnezzar — bow down to his golden image, or be thrown into a fiery furnace. The trio was not intimidated, and therefore told the king that they would not serve his gods, even under threat of punishment. Of course, they were thrown into the furnace, but the Lord protected them from destruction (Daniel 3:1–30). They demonstrated perseverance in the face of a real threat to their lives.

What is perseverance? It can be summed up this way: to wait patiently and cheerfully with hopeful expectation of relief as you go through a situation that is unpleasant or difficult, without being persuaded to give up your beliefs^[1]. Hebrews 11 details examples of people who demonstrated their faith by persevering through various trials. To wait patiently does not mean to sit and do nothing. In reference to what we should do after we believe, Peter said, “applying all diligence, in your faith supply…perseverance” (2 Peter 2:5–6).

The three Hebrew boys did not sit around waiting for deliverance. They participated in the events that did not violate God’s mandates; they were dressed appropriately for the event prescribed by the king (Daniel 3:21). But they did not give in to his threats, or debate with him to defend their cause. Instead, they put their trust in the One who was able to deliver them from the “furnace of blazing fire” (Daniel 3:16–30; see also Psalm 37:7).

Of course, not all who persevere through trials will be saved from physical death. The point of applying perseverance is to prove that God called and chose you (2 Peter 1:9–11). The New Testament contains many admonitions to persevere. Jesus said that some people receive “the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance” (Luke 8:15). Paul taught that the Scriptures written in the past were for our instruction, so that when they are combined with perseverance believers might have hope. (Romans 15:4–5).

FOOTNOTES

1. Based on the Greek words meno (G3306), hupo (G5259), hupomeno (G5278), and hupomone (G5281), as defined in the Dictionaries of Hebrew and Greek Words, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890 and the New Oxford American Dictionary. ↑