A Call To Endure - Mark 13:13

 

*A CALL TO ENDURE* (Mark 13:13)

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

– Mark 13:13

Now, there’s a specific context here in Mark chapter 13. Jesus is speaking to his disciples about the end times. There’s a lot we could discuss based on this passage.

Mark 13:13 Is a Calling to Endurance amidst Difficulties

But this verse transcends in a sense, this passage. We see it in so many different places in the Bible. Specifically in the New Testament, there are calls from Jesus to his followers for endurance.  For example, as Jesus’s speaking to his church in the first century, in the middle of persecution and temptations to worldliness, and he tells them over and over again to endure with patience.

 There’s this constant phrase, patient endurance that you see in. It’s the same sentiment here in Mark 13:13, the one who endures to the end will be saved.

And I want to just encourage you to think about that word in your life today. Yes, there’s a sense in which God has called us to thrive and excel and run the race before us. 

These are words and phrases, images that we see in the Bible.

 But we also see endure on days when it’s really hard to run. And on days when we don’t feel like we’re thriving to endure, to patiently walk and trust in God when it’s hard, when it’s difficult, when despair or darkness seems to be setting in or surrounding you.

Maybe on a particular day, over many days or months or years to endure in the middle of it all.

 The one who endures to the end will be saved. How do you endure? You know that your endurance is not the end of the story.

Or you endure when you know that your salvation is the end of the story. You endure when you know that darkness is not the end of the story. Deliverance is the end of the story. That light’s coming even when you can’t see it, when you’re in the middle of the tunnel, light is coming. 

The one who endures to the end will be saved. In other words, and I just want to encourage you to hold onto this. If you’re in challenging dark despairing days, know that challenges are not the end and darkness is not the end and despair is not the end.

Mark 13:13 Reminds us of the Joyful unfolding of History

That in Christ you always have hope and you have strength to endure, and you have patience to endure and love to endure. And God promises you everything you need. Peace, help to endure all the way to the end, and the end will be good.

The end will be no more sin, no more sorrow, no more suffering, no more difficulties, no more crying, no more pain, no more tears. He will wipe every single one of those from your eyes. The end will be glorification. The end will be you with God, dwelling with God free from all of these things to enjoy him and his family forever in eternity.

 So endure today in view of that day

[Jesus continued,] "And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."

— Mark 13:13 NLT

Even when our situation makes us feel like everyone is against us, we can endure ... we must endure ... we will endure. When we are faithful, when we endure, we can be certain that our future is with the Savior and great things await us at his return!

Today's Prayer

Give me strength, O Lord God Almighty, to endure faithfully to the end so I will find your glorious welcome into your eternal Kingdom of mercy, grace, and joy. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Revelation 2:10

Romans 8:35-39

1 Peter 4:1-4