The Gift of Perseverance (2)

The Christian life is a life driven from above, not from within ourselves. In us, there is nothing good (cf. Romans 7:18). Therefore, this life must fully depend on the grace of God. Accordingly, perseverance itself is also a gift. Augustine begins his discussion in De dono perseverantiae by affirming that “the perseverance by which we persevere in Christ even to the end is the gift of God; and I call that the end by which is finished that life wherein alone there is peril of falling.” (Augustine, A Treatise on the Gift of Perseverance). In the same tone, Calvin also writes: “Perseverance is exclusively God’s work; it is neither a reward nor a complement of our individual act.” (Calvin, Institutes)

Unless God Himself keeps us to the end, we have no strength to guard ourselves by our own might. Does this mean I am freed from the responsibility to persevere? Clearly, the answer is no. James explicitly teaches that we must persevere in examining the perfect law, the law of liberty (James 1:25). Christianity is not a faith that burns brightly today and is snuffed out tomorrow—it is not a faith that cannot endure testing.

The question now is: “How do we keep the fire from the Lord burning brightly in our lives?” The simple answer is by continually grounding our perseverance on God’s own perseverance and faithfulness. Isn’t it often the case that we are set ablaze for God’s work during retreats, blessed worship services, or anointed ministries, but as we return to daily life, we become more “realistic,” having to deal with all the burdens and troubles of living?

We are not teaching that we should neglect the issues of daily life. However, don’t these endless problems often entangle us so that we can no longer freely delight in the movement of God? Jesus taught us not to worry about our lives and their needs, because such worries hinder us from seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (cf. Matthew 6:25–34). Elsewhere, Jesus warned of “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches” that “choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).

We cannot keep the fire lit by God—to serve Him fervently in spirit (cf. Romans 12:11)—if our zeal slackens because we no longer persevere in maintaining the simplicity of Christian focus: seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we fail to let the coming of God’s Kingdom govern our lives, the narrative of the kingdoms of this world will swiftly take over.

In the narrative of the world’s kingdom, people no longer worry about what to eat, drink, or wear. Instead, they worry about not surpassing others’ greatness; they worry about not being honored in the world’s eyes; they worry that their possessions are insufficient to indulge themselves in the pleasures of the here and now.

If we are to persevere in seeking the Kingdom of God, we must also persistently cast off and discard the narrative of the world’s kingdom, for the two are utterly incompatible.

The reality that we are not always able to maintain perseverance should drive us to continually depend on God in prayer. We pray for revival and must persistently continue to pray for it. It is not enough to pray only occasionally, once a week at a church prayer meeting. Our daily lives should also be moved by a constant longing for the true revival that comes from God.

Perseverance in prayer for revival brings us closer to God’s heart. The persistence to approach the throne of grace has been understood by the saints throughout the ages. John Wesley wrote: “Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer; support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down.” This is in line with what is recorded in the letter to the Hebrews:

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)

“…in time of need” means we must continually approach this throne of grace with all perseverance.

Concerning perseverance in prayer, Calvin wrote: “If, with minds composed to this obedience, we allow ourselves to be ruled by the laws of divine providence, we shall easily learn to persevere in prayer and, with desires suspended, patiently to wait for the Lord.” (Calvin, Institutes)

Perseverance in prayer means waiting for God Himself.

In the end, the perseverance of the saints has been witnessed throughout the history of the church in their prayers. There has never been a true church that did not exhort its congregation to persevere to the end. Quoting Augustine once again at the end of his work De dono perseverantiae, we echo this rhetorical question:

And who has dared, not only with his voice, but even in thought, to blame the priest who invokes the Lord on behalf of believers, if at any time he has said, “Give to them, O Lord, perseverance in Thee to the end!” and has not rather responded, over such a benediction of his, as well with confessing lips as believing heart, “Amen”? (Augustine, Gift of Perseverance)