Endurance Produces Character

Posted on June 14, 2020

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Exodus 19:2-8a

Psalm 100

Romans 5:1-8

Matthew 9:35-10:8

These last several months have been a time of hardship for a lot of people. Many have lost their jobs, many have lost loved ones, many have lost their health, and their wealth. People have been closed off from receiving the health care that they need and many closed off from being able to see loved ones. Bottom line is that many have been forced to endure more than they had ever expected to have to endure. Here is the thing though, those who will endure will receive great reward for their endurance or perseverance. The path in which we take to endure through our trials will also decide our character. If we take the easy path out, we may learn very little and this also will be a sign of our character. If we take the hard a difficult path, then this may produce growth and the type of character of a person in which we might aspire to be. However, if we take the easy path then what experience of character growth can we hope to gain? Endurance through hardship and difficult times produces character.

In our reading from Exodus 19 God is explaining to Moses his plan for the people of Israel. He reminds Israel of the great things he has done and what it is that he has rescued them from. He explains that if they obey what he says then the result will be that Israel will be the treasured possession of God. Though the whole earth belongs to God, He will set apart this nation as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These people have endured much fear and hardship in the land of Egypt and God is acknowledging their endurance. They are now out in the desert and out in the wilderness and God is preparing them to keep their eye on the prize. Moses takes this message back to the people and they respond in saying “We will do everything the Lord has said.” This people has now committed themselves to hold themselves to this standard that God will make before them. They are at this very time claiming that they will endure through what ever the Lord puts before them as they await instruction in the desert.

We know from history that there were a select few who took this command seriously while the majority decided that taking the easy way out was a lot better. We do not remember the names of those who chickened out and refused to endure and obey. We don’t remember the names of the 10 spies who went into the promised land a reported that it could not be done. However, we remember the names of Caleb and Joshua who had the character to say that God can do it. However, because the majority of the people listened to the 10 who said it could not be done instead of the 2 who said that God can do it, the two were forced to endure until that generation passed away. This endurance produced a character of leadership and holiness that prepared these two men to lead the people into the promised land and do what they had believed that God said he would do. It is because of this endurance and this character that their endurance produced that we remember their names today.

In Romans 5 Paul explains that through our faith we are justified. This means that justice is served and Christ is the one who takes upon himself the justice that was due to us. It is through this faith that that we have gained access to grace and it is through this grace that we have hope in the glory of God. In fact, it is because of this grace and this hope from our faith that we can even delight in our sufferings. Paul says that suffering produces perseverance. The more we suffer and overcome now then the stronger our perseverance will be when other sufferings come. Perseverance then produces character and from that character is produced hope. When we endure hard times and persevere, we are made stronger and this also strengthens our character and our resolve as Christ followers. It is when we are tested that our character is truly revealed. Without the test of hard times then our character can never be developed or shine forth. It is not what we do in the good times that really defines our character but how we handle ourselves in the bad times that defines our character as children of God.

5 years ago, my wife and I were interviewed by the board of ministry for my ordination in the Church of the Nazarene. For four years prior I had gone to school and interviewed yearly for license renewal and was granted my license at each yearly interview. However, in the prior year we did not make it to the interview as my wife got sick on the way and we went through a year of suffering as we figured out what was causing her illness. Thankfully they re-issued my license for another year without an interview. We could have given up at that time but we persevered. The next year we made it to the interview however, the board of ministry did not grant me ordination that year. Though I understood their decision and was thankful that they still once again issued me my minister’s license, this was a hard loss for me. I felt somewhat rejected and somewhat like a failure and I could have given up at that point. However, those who are called by God do not give up. Rather than interview again for ordination I decided under the guidance of my mentor to put off the ordination for another year to make sure that I would be ready the next time to for ordination. We persevered through that time and I had the opportunity to learn more about myself and my wife through that process so that we would both be ready for what God would have us do. Therefore, 8 years from start to finish I was finally ordained in the Church of the Nazarene. I was told by one pastor after my interview that he was glad I persevered through and that he didn’t know if he would have been able to do that as I did. I appreciated his comments. It is through the course of such difficulty and challenge that character is built. It is through this challenge that my own character and assurance of faith was tested and developed as well.

In Matthew 9:35-10:8, Jesus is teaching, healing, and showing compassion on the people in need. He felt that they were like sheep without a shepherd both harassed and helpless by the evil and sins of the world. The people are suffering and enduring to survive as they await the savior and the good news of the kingdom of God. Jesus has compassion on them and sends out his disciples to help him. He cannot do this job all on his own so he empowers the disciples to perform the same miracles that he is performing. He tells them that the harvest plentiful. There is plenty in the world suffering and needing the message of the kingdom. However, the workers are few. Those called to share the character and grace of Christ to the world.

Jesus tells the disciples to focus only on the lost sheep of Israel. We can see here that just as God promised, Israel is God’s prized possession. He tells them to freely give as they have been given. They are told not to take gold or silver with them nor are they to take any provisions with them. They are to rely on whatever God provides. This is a test of their own trust a faith in God as well as their character. This will also be a test for the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus knows that not everyone will be willing to listen to the message that they have to give. Not everyone is humble enough to listen to the message of repentance or to accept that one they need a savior and two that Jesus is that savior that they need. Either way the disciples were called to deliver this message and it was not always an easy task. However, many found joy in their sufferings as they shared the message they were called to preach. It is because of the character that they displayed as followers of Christ that history records their names. We don’t remember the names of the people who drove the disciples out town or those who rejected the message. However, we remember those who listened and believed. We remember the names of those who had the character of Christ even to the very end. We remember the names of those like Stephen who saw heaven open before him before he was stoned to death. We remember many others who have done the same. Character was shown by them when it counted the most.

In the year 2020 we will remember those who overcame adversity and suffering to help those in need. We will remember all the doctors and nurses who sacrificed so much to save and comfort those who were sick or dying. They showed great character to keep pushing forward even when so many were lost and their own families and loved ones were put at risk. We will remember the churches or even just giving individuals who sacrificed and gave of there time to help those in need. We will remember those who gave money, supplies, and food to those who lost their jobs and could not afford to provide for their families. We will remember the manufacturing companies who changed their whole production and innovation lines to make medical supplies such as masks, face shields, and ventilators to help protect and save lives. These, are the people who despite the struggles and sufferings that have been going on in our world they displayed the character and freedom of America to innovate and give back generously to those in need. America was founded on the principles of scripture and the character and teachings of Christ. Through endurance and perseverance, we have seen the true character of what it means to be an American shine forth. However, the harvest is still plentiful and the workers are still few. The question I have is whether we the church will answer the call through perseverance in these times as workers of the harvest or will give up and decide that there is nothing that we cannot do it. Remember, we remember the names of those who said that God can but we do not remember the names of those who said I can’t.