May it please Almighty God to
bless us together this evening as we meditate in His Holy Word. Let us turn to the Gospel of
Matthew, chapter 24, and we'll read verse 13. Matthew's Gospel,
chapter 24, and reading verse 13. But he that shall endure
and to the end the same shall be saved. These are the words of Jesus
directed to the church of God and telling the church that there
would be hard times and difficult times. And this chapter that
we read together enumerates a number of situations which will develop. Perhaps we might say are developing
because as we look around the world's today. We see so many
difficulties arising, so much anarchy in countries and we see
pestilences and famines and floods and earthquakes, really fulfilling
the picture that we have in the Word of God. And so we should
not be surprised. As Christians we should recognise
that those things which are coming on the earth is a fulfillment
of the word of God. We won't go through the whole
list this evening, but just to pick up the last few verses from
verse seven, which tells us, for nation shall rise against
nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines and
pestilences and earthquakes in divers places, that means in
many places, All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall
they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you. And you shall
be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many
be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one
another. And many false prophets shall
rise and shall deceive many and because iniquity shall abound
the love of many shall wax cold so that's the picture, the brief
picture in part of the description that we have in this chapter
of the signs of the times and we should therefore expect these
kind of conditions to come upon the world And because then we
come down to this 13th verse, which tells us, But he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. So it gives us
a very clear picture that there will be those difficult situations,
there will be those things that we will indeed have to endure. And in an earlier chapter In
the 10th chapter of this same Gospel we read again very similar
words. In verse 22 we're told, So what
that really tells us is that we should expect opposition. We shouldn't be surprised. Sometimes
we tend to think it's a surprising situation which has developed,
but we should realize that God has given us such accounts as
we have in this 24th chapter of Matthew to make us very aware
that we're not entering into situations which were and are
not known to our God, because we believe that everything which
occurs in this earth is known to God perfectly, every detail,
and therefore we shouldn't be surprised. But there is this
encouraging statement, that he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved. Now In order to endure, what
does that mean? Well, it means that there will
be things that we will have to accept. We'll have to face them
and not be able to run away from them. We'll have to endure them. Not something that we naturally
want to do or like doing. But the alternative is, of course,
is to give up to acknowledge all those things which come upon
us because we have this statement in the twelfth verse and because
iniquity should abound the love of many shall wax cold and that's
a very sad position really to consider that those who perhaps
pretended that they love God When opposition arises, then
their zeal and love wax cold. They're not prepared to stand
for the truth. They're not prepared to follow
the divine words of Almighty God. They want to carry on in
their own way. Well, that's one of the reasons
why we have to endure And we're told very clearly, endure unto
the end. There will be an end. There will
be an end. An end of this world. The Word
of God tells us a number of times that there will be the end of
the world. When this world as we know it
will be burnt up. And you see we are then to endure
these situations in the time that this will come and to realise
the relevance of it and the importance of it, then he that shall endure
unto the end, the same shall be saved. Well, we should not
be therefore surprised if we have to face opposition. Well, we have a God, who enables
us to endure. We can't do things by ourselves. We won't be able to endure by
ourselves, but we have a God who is high and lifted up and
a God who has told us that he will be inquired of the House
of Israel to do these things for them. So we are to come to
this God, we are to commit our way unto Him we are to trust
in Him that He will be our helper and enable us to endure these
things that we read of in this chapter don't come by chance
they are ordained by Almighty God they've been part of the
great plan our God and that great plan of Almighty God is being
fulfilled and we don't know when the end of this world will come
but we do know it will come and we're told be also ready because
that day will come which we know not when but we are to be ready. And it's a wonderful favour to
have these things pointed out to us, so they don't come upon
us unawares, but that we might be ready for them and recognise
the truth that they are. When the Apostle wrote to his
son in the faith, Timothy, He also gave him instructions and
in the second epistle of Timothy and the second chapter, we read
this. It starts off by saying, Thou
therefore, my son, be strong. How? In the grace that is in
Christ Jesus. What a mercy it is that God gives
grace, free unmerited favour, and also he gives more grace. And therefore we are encouraged,
thou therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach
others also. And then he tells us really very
similar words as he's writing to Timothy. Thou therefore endure
hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. We're told here,
but he that should endure unto the end, the same shall be saved,
intimating that difficulties will arise. And he goes a bit
more in a bit more detail to his son-in-the-faith Timothy
and tells him, therefore, endure hardness as a good soldier of
Jesus Christ. And he says, no man that woreth
entangleth himself with the affairs of this life. that he may please
him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Well, as Christians,
we are in a battle. We're in a battle with the devil,
and the devil never gives up, and he will continue attacking
us until we pass out of time into eternity. so we can realize
the relevance of such a statement. Now therefore, endure hardness
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ and to not get entangled in all
the many evil things which exist in the world today. And don't
forget the devil is a very cunning adversary he's very deceptive
in the things that he sets before us and he can very easily tempt
us into situations we may not always see the danger to start
with but it's a good thing to be able to realise that we have
a God who gives us strength to resist the devil that he may
flee from us the devil wants us to become involved in those
things which will detract from the things of God, will lead
us away from the things of God. And of course the devil's ploy,
which he often uses and adopts is, there's no harm in that. There's no harm in that. And
on the face of it, it looks very mild and pleasant. And if we're
not careful, we can become entangled in a situation which then becomes
almost impossible to untangle and get ourselves free from it. So here we have this statement. No man that woreth entangleth
himself. with the affairs of this life
that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier. It's a wonderful thing, isn't
it, to have a God who knows about us and that we should desire
to truly please. Please in the things we think,
the things that we say, and the things that we do. And of course
the devil is very subtle in the day and age in which we live,
bringing so many evil thoughts into our minds. And that's why
there is an enduring, an enduring. The word is quite clear, isn't
it? They that endure unto the end. We're perhaps foolish to think,
well, that was a difficult situation I passed through, and now life
will be easy. Well, here is a word to encourage
us, but also to warn us, they that endure unto the end. So from such a statement is that
we can imagine that there will be things to endure to the end
of our life. We won't suddenly have a wonderful
relief. And the reason, I believe, is
this. If we had everything smooth and that, we would settle down
very easily in this vain world. And one of the things that we
would fail to benefit from is fellowship with the Lord Jesus
Christ. And fellowship with the Lord
Jesus Christ comes about as we have to endure in a much less
measure, but nonetheless endure those things which oppose the
things of God. We profess to be followers of
the Lord Jesus Christ, but we really want to only follow those
things which are good and pleasant. And yet, you see, we follow a
despised and crucified man. We have His life set before us
and it is good to realise that in following the Blessed Saviour
it is a pathway of blessing. A pathway of blessing. And so
but he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved. We won't be lost. We shall be
saved. It's good isn't it to realise
that it's all part of God's plan And it's all part of God's plan
to bring honor and glory to Himself. How often we fail to realize
that. We look at our lives and we look at just the situation
which surrounds us and we think, well, what's going to happen
now? We're surely going to come into a much easier path. Well,
the Lord doesn't promise that, but He does promise us that we
will be blessed with communion and union with himself. I often
like to think of the words that the Apostle Paul wrote to the
Philippians and he listed really his own testimony and he tells
us how his life was how he rejoiced in doing those things which but
probably contrary to God. He tells us of his life and what
he was and what he did and how he was circumcised the eighth
day of the stock of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew
of the Hebrews and touching the law of Pharisee. Sometimes we
might be proud of our heritage. Paul was proud of his heritage.
It wasn't a good heritage. Concerning zeal, persecuting
the church, touch in the righteousness which is in the Lord blameless.
But what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for
Christ. And then he goes on. Yea, doubtless.
And I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things. and to count them but done, that I may win Christ
and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which
is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith. Well, that's a
good testimony, isn't it? For us to realize, yes, the apostle,
he had to endure. He had to endure, but what did
it bring him into? brought him into union with Christ
and therefore he continues and says that I may know him. Well of course the Apostle knew
the Lord Jesus Christ. But he goes on to say and the
power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings
being made conformable unto his death. How often do we pass over
such a statement as that? Fellowship. with the sufferings
of the Lord Jesus Christ and if we are to be a true follower
of the Lord Jesus Christ he walked this world, didn't he? he had
to endure opposition constantly he had to endure sufferings constantly
and there's the example for us but what a mercy it is if we
have to endure opposition and hardship to have that wonderful
realisation that the Lord Jesus passed this way. He lived on
this earth. He passed this way. He endured. He endured, didn't he? I've seen
things which are invisible. He saw, he endured. What a blessing
it is for us today, if by his grace we endure. we endure and
there was a good prospect and that's the reason why the Apostle
speaks to these things and that's the reason why we're able to
also read these things to realize there is a good prospect and
surely that should make us conscious of the truth that this world
the world in which we live is not our home Well, perhaps we
might say it's just a temporary dwelling. We've no abiding city
here, just a temporary dwelling. And so he tells us this, and
be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God, by faith that I may know him and the power
of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings be made conformable
unto his death if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection
of the dead.' He realised the importance of being in this position. And what a favour it was, and
what a blessing it was, if by any means I might attain unto
the resurrection of the dead. To be amongst those whom Christ
had saved, whom Christ had delivered, if by any means I might attain
unto the resurrection of the dead. Well, we might do well
to compare our lives with that position we've just read and
realize that here was the concern of the Apostle, the prayer of
the Apostle, that he might be found living nearer to Christ. And he counted all things, all
things, loss for Christ. all things and he counted all
things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord. Well I wonder what value you
and I put on fellowship with Christ. You see we very easily
and often glibly make statements but here was the Apostle who
had to live A very difficult life. After he was converted
on that Damascus road, he had a hard life. Much opposition. But you see, he could do all
things through Christ that strengthened him. And he says, if by any means
I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead, not as though I
had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow
after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended
of Christ Jesus. Well it's a wonderful statement
and we can be sure that this was an honest statement that
the Apostle was able to write and it would be good if you and
I today are able to confirm our situation so that as we press
on through this life, realising that we have to endure opposition,
but in enduring opposition, we have the benefit of union and
fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, you might ask the
question, well, is it worth it? Is it valuable? Well, it is worth
it. And it is valuable. And it's
wonderful to know that. And I can testify in my own life
the truth of that situation. And it puts everything in a right
perspective. You may think, oh, why am I having
to pass this way? Why am I having to endure this
situation? Yes, you may have to face that,
but it's good to realise that it is for our eternal good to
bring us into fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And then
it is, you see, that we then appreciate, in some measure,
the tremendous cost of our salvation. So easy it is to pass by these
truths because the word says, but he that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved. And it's then we have some understanding
of the cost of our salvation. If we just sail through life
with not any real problems, any real difficulties, like many
people do, and yet end up in hell itself. What a blessing,
therefore, to be amongst those who the Lord is making, as the
Apostle desired, conformable unto his image. You may not want to pray that,
But it is a good prayer and it is a blessing to be made conformable
to the image of the Saviour. As you trace out the glorious
image of the Saviour, we see He went about doing good. We see He pleased not Himself. Yes, He had long nights without
sleep. He lived his life to do the will
of his father. And therefore if we find perhaps
difficulties and opposition And we may wonder why. It's good
to come back to a statement like this. He that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved. And it's worth just noting that,
as I mentioned already, the previous verse, And because iniquity shall
abound, the love of many shall wet cold. But then as we come
on to this 13th verse, the first word is but. But. There's many buts in the Word
of God and it's important to notice the relevance of them.
And here we have but, he that shall endure unto the end shall
be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all
nations and then shall the end come. Well that's another clear
statement that the Word of The Gospel will be preached throughout
the world in far off places. There won't be any situation,
any place where the Gospel is not preached. And when that's
done, then the end will come. Sometimes I just think it's worthwhile
pondering the great truth of the Word of God and to realize,
well, I am having to endure. How do we react to that? You
may think, well I wish I didn't have to endure. Well, it would be good perhaps
if we change that and realise that in the enduring of the difficulties
and trials, and they may be different in our lives, each one of us
may have a different situation, the heart knoweth its own bitterness well perhaps you know what that
means because of the temptations that flood into your soul and
you find there's bitterness there when it's an enduring it's part
of the pathway to lead us to fellowship with the Lord Jesus
Christ His way, as the hymn writer says, was much harder and rougher
than mine. Did Christ, my Lord, suffer? And shall I repine? The Lord
has seen fit to lay, perhaps, a burden upon us. And you know,
it's very easy, isn't it, to think how hard done by we are. Well, it's good sometimes to
realize that there are so many in the world who have a much
harder path to walk than we do. And to realise how kind and gracious
the Lord is to us in dealing with us, in love to our souls. Well, the Apostle Paul appreciated
the favour and the blessings that he received from Almighty
God and it's good if you and I appreciate the blessings also
and can thank God For it, you know, James is a lovely little
epistle. There's some great truths in
James and we should never turn away from it. And in the first
chapter, again, we're told really the situation, 12th verse, blessed
is the man that endureth temptation. Why is that? We're told, for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised
to them that love him. And that's the word of God. So what
a promise it is, a crown of life. If we have no enduring, perhaps
we should conclude there's no crown of life. But if we have
to endure, There is laid up for us a crown of life. Oh, my friends, what a blessed,
what a blessed situation it is. Something to look forward to. And the apostle goes on and says,
let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. For God
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.
But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust
and enticed. You see, we have to lay the problem
at our own door. And so this word is very true. But he that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved. If we don't endure, then we won't
be saved that surely is the conclusion that we should come to what a
mercy it is and then just a further word that we have again in this
epistle of James chapter 5 and verse 11 behold we count them
happy which endure we have them cool we count them happy which
endure. And then he gives us an example
and it's good to have an example. You have heard of the patience
of Job and have seen the end of the Lord. The Lord is very
pitiful and of tender mercy. Well I expect we most of us know
what Job's life was like. It was exceedingly difficult
after a wonderfully easy and prosperous beginning, when he
virtually lost everything, but he endured. And as you read through
that book of Job, and as I've said sometimes, it's well worth
reading, a lot of instruction in it, but he came down right
towards the end, when after his friends had spoken
to him and Elihu, And then God spoke to him. And that's true,
when God speaks to us, people might speak to you. Doesn't have
any effect. But when God spoke to him, and
God outlined the position, the greatness of himself, and what
did he conclude? He concluded, behold, I am vile. Yes, he didn't say he was a wonderful
man and he'd endured all this situation. He said, behold, I
am vile. But you know, the Lord greatly
blessed Job. He blessed his latter end more
than his beginning. He had all this to endure, but
it brought Job down to see what he was really like. He was very
proud of himself. and all that he'd been able to
do and say. But when God spoke, it brought
him right down. And that's a mercy for us if
the Lord brings us into these situations so that we endure,
we endure. And it's for our good. Job endured,
and it was for his good. And we should be very thankful.
And he says, you've heard of the patience of Job and have
seen the end of the Lord. And the Lord is very pitiful
and of tender mercy. You see, God deals with us. He
causes us to endure because of his love to our soul. Isn't that wonderful to think
that God loves us so much But He teaches us and He instructs
us and He fits and prepares us for our eternal home. Just like
Job, the Lord was gracious to him. The Lord blessed him and
He instructed him and prepared him. What a mercy it is for us
to realize that we have to deal with the same God today. It's
not an unknown God, it's the same God. And so Job is able
to tell us in the last chapter that Job answered the Lord and
said, I know that thou canst do everything and that no thought
can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel
without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that
I understood not things too wonderful for me which I knew not. Here
I beseech thee. and I will speak. I will demand
of thee and declare unto me, I've heard of thee by the hearing
of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee. That's by faith,
of course. Wherefore, I abhor myself and
repent in dust and ashes. We might say 41 chapters in the
book of Job We come to the 42nd chapter and we see there after
all those toing and froings with his friends in Elihu and then
God speaks in the last couple of chapters and this is the effect. It brings Job right down. What
a good thing. What a blessed thing. We might
not always appreciate it. Job didn't appreciate it when
he was in the midst of it. Oh no, he didn't like it at all.
But he was brought to this, wherefore I bore myself and repent in dust
and ashes. Well, what a mercy then to have
a God, because we're told then, so the Lord blessed the latter
end of Job more than his beginning. Lord is kind and gracious and
merciful. And these things were brought
about for the honour and glory of God. And so, he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. So my friends,
let us not write bitter things against ourselves. If we find
the pathway is not easy, and if we find we have an evil heart
which keeps on prodding us, bringing things before us. Then I realised
it's part of the Lord's gracious dealings with us to make us conformable
unto his image and bringing us to this position so that we do
by his grace Endure unto the end, and as he says, the same
shall be saved. That's what you and I need, to
know that we are amongst those for whom Christ died, amongst
those who he suffered in our place, for those whom he saved
with a great salvation. Because if that's so, we have
a wonderful prospect, a glorious prospect, to be found at last
in heaven, for eternity. Oh, it's hard for us to imagine,
isn't it? Eternity with the Saviour. And not because of what we've
done, but because of what the Saviour has done to redeem our
souls. Oh, great cause to praise and
honour and glorify our God. And so tonight as we might think
upon this word to endure unto the end. It's all part of God's
gracious plan in preparing us for our eternal home and it's
good therefore to just meditate on that and to think well why
is, why am I having to walk this path? Why is it difficult? Why
has the Lord caused me to walk this path? Why couldn't I be
like somebody else? My friend, God ordains a special
path for each one of us. And that special path is to prepare
us for our eternal home. So that when by His grace we
shall look on His face, that will be glory. Be glory for me.