January 6, 2021
by Pastor Don Willeman
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Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of the Kingdom Perspective.

What should we do in the face of the coronavirus epidemic?

We should prepare mentally and emotionally for a marathon and not a sprint.

Sprints require a short burst of energy; marathons require endurance.

There are many indications that this pandemic is going to disrupt our normal way of life for a long time to come. No one knows exactly how long, but some data suggests that it could be unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetime. Now, perhaps this will blow over with little incident. If so, great! But if it doesn’t, then, we need to prepare ourselves mentally for a race of endurance.

Regardless, though, the Scriptures everywhere commend to us an endurance mentality. Biblically, perseverance is essential to our faith. Consider these passages:

In Romans 5 we are told to “exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope….”

In Colossians Paul prays that we would be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11).

Jesus himself warns us: “…many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:10-13 ESV)

It is not surprising then that the writer of Hebrews describes the Christian life as a marathon: “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB).

Perhaps, if nothing else, the Lord is using this crisis to grow his people in endurance.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

~ Romans 8:18-25 (NASB)

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