ENDURING HARDNESS

The French have an expression that says, "La vie est dur, mais Dieu est bon."  Translated, it means "Life is hard, but God is good."  Truly, life has a way of throwing every one of us difficulties that test the limits of our endurance and our faith.  Although scripture admonishes us to, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you," we, nonetheless, are surprised by our trials as though we expect God to hide us from all adversity.  The truth is, we are not exempt from the hardness of life, but we do have a Savior Who is ever with us through our struggles.  "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

St. Paul admonished Timothy to, "Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3)  Paul realized that "hardness" was capable of destroying good Christians and stealing the Word out of their hearts.  He was well aware of Jesus' teaching in the parable of the sower about how tribulations, and persecutions, and the cares of this life, can have a devastating impact on our lives.  Paul wanted to equip Timothy with the tools he needed to be a good soldier in the army of the Lord.

Paul goes on to reveal to Timothy his motivation for enduring hardness.  He said, "I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."  (2 Timothy 2:10)  As Christians, we must always remember that people are watching us.  Both saints and sinners alike are interested in how we act and react in certain situations.  They want to know if we are righteous - capable of doing right.  We often fail in this category, and end up transgressing with our words or our actions when under pressure.  We feel badly afterwards, but must realize that we have not only failed ourselves, but all those around us as well.  Being faced with an opportunity to be an example of God's grace, and to show the life of Jesus manifest in our body, or to react selfishly, and allow our carnal nature to dictate what we do, we frequently miss the mark.   

Before becoming a Christian, I worked with a group of men who, like me, were very ungodly.  One day, a new guy transferred into the department who was a Christian.  His name was Steve, and he always seemed to be upbeat, and not afraid to witness of his faith to the rest of the group as he had opportunity.  I found myself curious about what he had in his life that I did not.  I didn't ask him about it, or talk much to him; but I watched his life intently.  On a particular night, a group of us from the department, including Steve, were sitting in the cafeteria having lunch.  One of the guys who was sitting next to Steve decided to dump pepper all over his half-eaten meal.  Had it been me, I would have gotten very angry and probably "taken it to the next level."  Steve, however, reacted with extreme grace and dignity.  This one act was enough to convince me that there was a God, and that if He could give Steve the power to be righteous in the face of such obvious persecution, then He could change my nature also, and make me righteous.

Though Paul wanted to see Timothy learn to endure hardness, he knew that Timothy could not accomplish such a thing in his own strength, or by his own will power.  He told him, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1)  It is by grace - and only by grace - that we are saved and transformed.  We are incapable of achieving the righteousness of God by our own efforts.  "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:3, 4)

Paul struggled with a particular infirmity in his flesh which he had to learn to endure.  He was also beaten, opposed, shipwrecked, imprisoned, stoned, and a host of other afflictions.  Because of all this, he was very qualified to talk about hardness.  In the 12th chapter of Corinthians, he says, "lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

If you are experiencing hard times right now, know first of all that you are loved by your heavenly Father!  Not one small sparrow falls to the ground without His knowing, and you are more precious to Him than the sparrows.  Know also that this time of "hardness" is an opportunity for Jesus to manifest Himself in your mortal flesh.  There is someone watching your life right now who wants to see Jesus in you.  They want to know if your words have the power to change your life as you say they have the power to change theirs.  They want desperately to know that there is a God Who loves them, and a Savior Who can truly save.  Will you be a vessel for the grace of God?  Will you yield your body as an instrument of righteousness?  Will you endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ?

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  (Romans 12:1)