Hello, Beloved Reader! I’m Faith. Thanks for visiting me today.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” — Matthew 10:22

“But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” — Matthew 24:13

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” — 2 Timothy 2:3

“And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” — Hebrews 6:5

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” — James 5:1

The trophy at the end of the game sparkles, glinting in the lights, reflecting in the eyes of the proud team that possesses it. Their faces beam underneath all the sweat and dirt covering their foreheads and cheeks. They all flop down on the benches, worn out from the day’s activities. But, the proud look in their eyes never fades, no matter how tired they are. They finished the game. Yeah, there were a few scratches, gashes, broken bones, and bruises, but they won. They lasted, endured to the end, and won.

They suffered the beatings. They put in the practice. They took focus away from their loved ones and pushed it onto their progress in getting better at the sport. They rammed head-first into the barrier and after a few knockdowns got up and kept going. Some of their friends fell back and refused to go further, but that didn’t stop them from keeping on.

Enduring is a hard thing. I’m not going to tell you it’s easy. It’s not.

It’s one of the hardest things you will ever do in your life.

People in your life won’t understand and may discourage you from continuing. “You don’t need to do all that to be a Christian,” they might say. People will beat you down and sneer at you. They will hurt you and cast you aside. But you can’t stop. I’m not putting away your feelings. Give yourself some time to be upset, but don’t stay there. You can’t.

Imagine the streets of pure gold sparkling under your feet. The cool water of the River and the sweet fruit from the Tree becoming familiar friends. Your home is a mansion. And the best part is, you get to see the face of the One who loves you the most.

So, endure.

Endure the hardships, for it gets easier afterward. Endure the pain, it won’t hurt after a little while. Endure the chaos, for peace is coming. Endure the sorrow, for joy comes in the morning. Endure any looks of disgust, they’ll see what you’re all about soon. Endure the loneliness, for it drives you closer to God and helps you find those select few people who will really encourage you.

Endure this world for your short life, and live forever in the eternal Heaven with Jesus.

I want you to realize something. Think about how long forever is. Life may seem long, but it’s really not. What is 80, 95, or even 100 years? Nothing but dust in the wind or a passing wave. Gone just as quickly as it came. Forever is forever. It never ends.

So, let me ask you this:

Do you want to live like the world 80 years, talk like the world, walk like them, sing like them, and finally, at the end of your short life, die like them?

Only you can commit to a life that honors Christ. But, ask yourself this question:

What happens if you don’t?

—Faith Cross