Lesson 28: Enduring to the end
2 Timothy 3:1-9 - www.bible.com/bible/59/2ti.3

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.


How long must we endure? Will things ever get better?

We want our lives to be good lives – happiness, enough money to be able to do what we want, healthy bodies, good jobs which give us satisfaction in accomplishment. These might seem like great goals for our lives, and mostly they are – but, for Christians, they’re not good, realistic goals for this life here on earth. Remember, Jesus said in John 16:33 we would have trouble in this world.

The story is told of a missionary who had ministered overseas for many years. As he returned home, he saw someone else who returned home to great celebration and joy from the many greeting them. He stood alone, with no one to greet him, and asked God why he, who had served Him for such a long time, didn’t receive this celebration. God said to him, “You’re not Home yet.”

We must know the truth of where this world is going – and our verses today give good description of this. A hymn we sang as I was growing up said, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.” Our treasures are not safe here in this world, they can only be safe in the eternal world – Heaven. And where we store our treasure is also where our heart will be (see Matthew 6:21).

Over and over the Bible calls us to endure to the end: John 15:4-9 says we’re to abide in Him, Romans 8:37-39 calls it conquering, Ephesians 6:13-18 calls it standing in perseverance, Colossians 1:22-23 calls it continuing, Revelation 2-3 calls it conquering to the end. We must not grow weary or give up before God’s plan is finished – and it’s finished when we stand before His throne in Heaven in perfection.

*Which verb best describes the way God enables you to endure – abide, conquer, stand, persevere, continue? What attribute of God do you rely on most to endure to the end?