Joel M Bradshaw

 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.–Matthew 24

Today’s reading is Jesus’ famous chapter about the end-times. So that is our context. Jesus’ usage of the word ‘saved’ has an Old Testament feel. Salvation is being delivered by God from an impossible situation where you have no other answer or hope. We usually think of salvation in terms of spiritual matters of sin and hell, and indeed our sin is the greatest of problems that we have absolutely no answer for in ourselves. But here, Jesus seems to make salvation a more physical matter of deliverance in tribulation.

Jesus promises salvation for only those who endure to the end. This should both convict you in your hypocrisy to repent and encourage you to be intentional about faithfulness. Take stock of the spiritual fruit on your branches. Let’s close with another end-times verse about endurance.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:10-11)

We endure and overcome because of Jesus. He has done all the heavy lifting. But we do also maintain a testimony of faith. It’s not too late, my friend. Turn to Jesus and start a new chapter of your story. A repentance chapter. A trust chapter. A life on the path of Jesus and not of self. Endure to the end, whenever that end may be!–JMB