Luke 21:19
In your patience possess ye your souls.
Considering that this verse is found in a passage that Jesus is speaking about end times, I find it most understandable if we talk about it as such. However, this does little to narrow down a time period considering we have been living in the "end times" since Jesus' ascension. Or, the Dispensation of Grace. We are to be a light to this world and proclaim the love of Christ to all the nations and to patiently await the coming of our Lord, knowing that He could return at any moment. It is a difficult balance that one must find. We are to posses our souls with patience, but to also have a sense of urgency concerning the work at hand; for no man knows the day or the hour. We as Christians should not be caught off guard nor surprised when He does indeed return. We must also be firm in our understanding of His promises, knowing that they will come to pass.
Being patient is part of persevering. One cannot exist without the other. Patients is the very engine which drives perseverance. That is to say, without patients perseverance would be reduced to nothing more than a mentality possessed by the majority of people I have come in contact with. What happens to the children that grow up in Sunday school? Surly their should be more firm Christians out there who are living their lives according to God's purpose. What happens? We grow up, we buy things, we sell our souls to obtain things we cannot keep and become people we never intended to be. We see the flaws in this mentality from a very young age, yet are over come by it once we are of age. We, as a generation, lack the faith to preserver in our Christian walk, not being able to trust the promises of God. This lack of faith can then only find it's logical conclusion in disbelief. Who could settle for the muck and mire of this world when eternal glory is promised us? For that man, we should all weep. I once was that man.
In your patience possess ye your souls.
Considering that this verse is found in a passage that Jesus is speaking about end times, I find it most understandable if we talk about it as such. However, this does little to narrow down a time period considering we have been living in the "end times" since Jesus' ascension. Or, the Dispensation of Grace. We are to be a light to this world and proclaim the love of Christ to all the nations and to patiently await the coming of our Lord, knowing that He could return at any moment. It is a difficult balance that one must find. We are to posses our souls with patience, but to also have a sense of urgency concerning the work at hand; for no man knows the day or the hour. We as Christians should not be caught off guard nor surprised when He does indeed return. We must also be firm in our understanding of His promises, knowing that they will come to pass.
Being patient is part of persevering. One cannot exist without the other. Patients is the very engine which drives perseverance. That is to say, without patients perseverance would be reduced to nothing more than a mentality possessed by the majority of people I have come in contact with. What happens to the children that grow up in Sunday school? Surly their should be more firm Christians out there who are living their lives according to God's purpose. What happens? We grow up, we buy things, we sell our souls to obtain things we cannot keep and become people we never intended to be. We see the flaws in this mentality from a very young age, yet are over come by it once we are of age. We, as a generation, lack the faith to preserver in our Christian walk, not being able to trust the promises of God. This lack of faith can then only find it's logical conclusion in disbelief. Who could settle for the muck and mire of this world when eternal glory is promised us? For that man, we should all weep. I once was that man.
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