LIVING READY IN THE LAST DAYS
PART TWO: FAITHFULNESS THROUGH ADVERSITY
We are continuing in our series on the Second Coming of Jesus, a subject with all kinds of different thoughts. But we are focusing on the words of Jesus and how they help us live ready in the last days.
A story ties in with our focus today. In 1952, Florence Chadwick, a world-renowned long-distance swimmer, set out to swim the 26-mile stretch between Catalina Island and the California coastline. The conditions that day were challenging. The water was freezing cold, the waves were rough, and a dense fog covered the area, making it nearly impossible for her to see the coastline.
After 15 hours of swimming, completely exhausted and unable to see her goal, she asked to be pulled out of the water. When she climbed into the boat, she discovered she had been less than a mile from the shore.
Later, Florence told reporters, “I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land, I might have made it.” Two months later, she tried again. This time, the same dense fog surrounded her, but she kept an image of the coastline in her mind. She completed the swim and became the first woman to do so.
Florence Chadwick’s perseverance teaches us an important lesson: faithfulness means pressing on, even when the way forward is unclear. Jesus calls us to a similar determination in our walk of faith. In Mark 13:9-13, He prepares us for the foggy, uncertain challenges of life, encouraging us to trust Him and remain faithful, knowing that the goal is worth it.
Mark 13:9-13(CEB):
9 “Watch out for yourselves. People will hand you over to the councils. You will be beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me so that you can testiy before them. 10 First, the good news must be proclaimed to all the nations. 11 When they haul you in and hand you over, don’t worry ahead of time about what to answer or say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that moment, for you aren’t doing the speaking but the Holy Spirit is. 12 Brothers and sisters will hand each other over to death. A father will turn in his children. Children will rise up against their parents and have them executed. 13 Everyone will hate you because of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved.
This is the word of God
For the people of God
Thanks be to God
If you remember last week, Jesus began this discussion by telling his disciples they should not be as concerned about the signs as they about being on alert for false messiahs. Jesus opens our section this week in verse 9 saying, “Watch out for yourselves. People will hand you over to the councils. You will be beaten.” This is not a “watch out” so the hardship can be avoided, rather a call to be prepared for when it arrives. The disciples were to be ready for challenges, not surprised by them. Faithfulness to Jesus would not be an escape from hardship but a commitment to endure through it.
There is a reason Jesus wants them to be ready for these hardships. They are opportunities. Look at what Jesus goes onto say in verse 9, “You will stand before governors and kings because of me so that you can testify before them.” For the disciples, these moments of hardships would be opportunities to have a platform to share Jesus. If we read in the book of Acts, we discover Peter, John, and Paul in such situations. Adversity provided them a platform to demonstrate God’s power and grace.
While dealing with adversity sounds unpleasant, even terrifying, Jesus does share words of hope. In verse 11, Jesus says, “Don’t worry ahead of time about what to answer or say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that moment, for you aren’t doing the speaking but the Holy Spirit is.” The disciples would not be left alone, dependent upon their own strength, wisdom, and knowledge. The Holy Spirit, God, will be with them.
Verse 13 is both a difficult verse as well as one full of hope. Jesus says, “Everyone will hate you because of my name. But whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.” We all wanted to be like and accepted for who we are and what we believe. The disciples were not different. But Jesus tells them they will hated simply because of their faith in Him. It is a hardship to press forward when no one likes you, yet that is what Jesus calls the disciples to do. And it is not that their faith will save them from the misery and rejection, but it points to their reward for enduring. The disciples enduring does not grant them salvation, but it would prove that their faith in Jesus was genuine.
What does this teach us? How does this help us to live ready in the last days? It is all about faithfulness. Like the disciples, we are to be proactive in preparing for when hardships will come. We prepare by growing in our understanding by gathering with other believers, reading the Word, and prayer. The closer we draw to Jesus the better our hearts are guarded for the attacks of the enemy as we press through adversity.
Faithfulness also understands there is greater purpose intertwined with hardship. Our trials are an opportunity for us to glorify God. I think of Brother Warren who was dealing with cancer there at the end. But I know everytime I went to visit and encourage him, Brother Warren encouraged me. His faithfulness to God was a testimony to me that God would be with me through anything. When we endure through hardship, it is a testimony to other believers and those outside the faith about the power of God’s grace.
While faithfulness means we draw closer to God, it is also something we do not endure alone. God draws us in closer if we lean into Him. Rather than trying to get by on our strength, wisdom, skills, and knowledge, we rely on God’s presence with us through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit equips us with the tools of the Kingdom to navigate the difficulties, pointing us to hope. Think about Florence and her swim. She failed the first time, but the second time just knowing the sure line was out there kept her pushing forward. This is what the Holy Spirit does with us.
In the end, faithfulness that perseveres reveals the truth about our hearts. I have been a Notre Dame football fan my whole life. There have been many heartaches. It would be easy to keep cheering and stick with them if they were winning championships. But they have not. My loyalty to them in these lean times shows that I truly am a fan. Our faithfulness in hardship shows our faith in Jesus is genuine. It is not faithfulness through these times that save us, Jesus saved us and our pressing onward demonstrates how deeply we believe it.
Are you prepared to stand firm in adversity? Whether you are ready or not, adversity will happen. For some of you, adversity is right now. You are facing potentially another week of kids at home, financial difficulties, impossible work situations, terrible people, or tough news from the doctors. Whatever it may be, this is a God moment for you. Will you trust Him through this adversity? Will you see as an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power and grace in your life? Do you realize that this hardship will be your testimony to your neighbor of your faith in Jesus?
In verse 10, Jesus told the disciples that “the good news must be proclaimed.” Faithfulness in these moments is proclaiming the good news. You and I may be crushed and broken, even feel defeated, but the gospel of Jesus cannot be. Matthew Henry wrote, “Though they may be crushed and borne down, the gospel cannot; it shall keep its ground, and carry the day.” How do I know this? Think of all those Christians who have stood on their faith in Jesus while in Roman coliseums waiting on wild beasts to attack them, Bible translators tied to stakes waiting to be burned, believers who had their whole family turn against their faith, and even those who were turned over by other jealous church members; they may have lost their lives but the gospel of Jesus carried on.
You are not alone in this. God is with you. His Holy Spirit has all the strength you need for any and every trial. He also has grafted you into fellowship with others who are also empowered by His Holy Spirit, you are united with them in this bond. They are with you to be His hands when you are to afraid to lift yours. They are with you to help push you forward when you do not feel like moving. The Church is called to be a safe place of community, it should be. David and Donna did that for Jane yesterday. Jane is sick, they took her some stuff to help with electrolytes. Sandy did that for me Wednesday as I was sharing how I focus on the one little thing that goes wrong every Sunday. She reminded me that was the enemy! That is the Church, that is the Holy Spirit working in us and through us!
There have been many in our church who have faced adversity over this last week. As matter of fact, Emily faced adversity when she fell last week at church. It was scary, but you know what God was faithful! She fell inside instead of outside! She fell, but did not break anything! God did not keep her from the bumps and bruises, but He proved Himself faithful. Bo Rogers this week was facing what he, Reva, and the doctors thought would be tough news. But God was faithful! Their fears were turned to joy! God did not keep Bo and Reva from the fear of what could be, but He proved His power was at work through it all.
I could keep going, but I think it is more important to as you a question. Are you facing adversity right now? This is not a moment to shy away from God—it’s an opportunity to trust Him more deeply. Take a moment right now to pour out your heart to Him in prayer. Ask for His strength to carry you through and for the courage to see His hand at work in your situation.
For those walking in a season of peace, let me ask you this: Is our church a safe place for those who are hurting? Are we offering hope and encouragement to everyone who walks through these doors? Let’s commit as a body to trust Jesus with the people He sends our way and to be His hands and feet in their time of need.
Let’s respond to God’s call together, trusting the Holy Spirit to empower us for every challenge and opportunity.
