Persistence

 

Bjorn Borg was one of the greatest tennis players that ever laced up a pair of sneakers. The former World Number One player from Sweden won 11 grand slam singles titles, five consecutive Wimbledon single titles and four consecutive French Open titles. He won 41% of the Grand Slam singles tournaments he entered. He had the highest career winning percentage of any male player (82.72%) in the history of the sport. When asked the secret of his success Borg responded, “My greatest point is my persistence. I never give up on a match. However down I am, I fight until the last ball. My list of matches shows that I have turned a great many so-called irretrievable defeats into victories.” Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.” He was right! James Whitcomb Riley said, “The most essential factor is persistence – the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.” He was right! Thomas Carlyle said, “Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities. It is this that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” He was right! What is persistence? Forget all the fancy definitions! To persist is to keep on keeping on! A persistent person is one who refuses to give up; one who continues tenaciously; one who is steadfast, determined and insistent. Bertrand Russell said, “No great achievement is possible without persistent work.” He was right!

[Hebrews 6:10] You will not find the word “persistence” in the Bible! You will find the idea of “persistence” on nearly every page – especially in the epistles as they stress practical Christian living. Consider these points: * We must “stand fast in the faith” (1 Corinthians 16:13). We must “stand fast in one spirit” (Philippians 1:27). We must “stand fast in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1). * We are to “hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We must “hold fast the pattern of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13). We must “hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14). * James wrote, “Indeed, we count them blessed who endure” (James 5:11). We must “endure persecutions and tribulations” (2 Thessalonians 1:4); “hardship” (2 Timothy 2:3); “affliction” (2 Timothy 4:5); “chastening” (Hebrews 12:7); and “grief” (1 Peter 2:19). The Master said, “he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). We must stand fast! We must hold fast! We must endure! That sounds like persistence to me! Woody Hayes, the legendary coach at Ohio State University, taught his players that the key to success on the football field was to “paralyze resistance with persistence.” The same is true on the field of life – the Christian life! “Paralyze resistance with persistence.” Keep on Keeping on!

Even in the midst of God’s wrath, i.e. more than a dozen, out of control, woodland wildfires in California, legislators, the governor, district judges, county attorney’s, city mayors and councils are doing everything they can to deny Christians the right to assemble and worship in spite of the fact congregations are, and have been without complaint, following the medical mandates prescribed by the state. I implore you to investigate this for yourself. Liberty Counsel is a not for profit legal defense with lawyers defending folks all across this nation being stripped of their rights and denied their religious freedoms. Don’t take my word for it – go to lc.org and read about the atrocities being suffered by AMERICAN citizen’s right here in the United States by elected government offices. The entire congregation of the Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California has been threatened with fines and jail if they assembly for worship.