Enduring for Heaven

Making It

2 Timothy Ch 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 All that awaits me now is the crown of righteousness which the Lord, "the Righteous Judge," will award to me on that Day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for him to appear.

Life is hard. From the moment we’re born to the moment we die, life is hard. There are more bad days than good. Just ask Peter. Peter had one of the most awful days of his life even though he walked with YESHUA. Peter told YESHUA:

Matthew Ch 26:35 "Even if I must die with you," Kefa replied, "I will never disown you!" And all the talmidim said the same thing.

But he broke his word. Peter denied YESHUA three times. What followed?

Matthew Ch 26:75 Kefa remembered what Yeshua had said, "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times"; and he went outside and cried bitterly.

I can’t imagine what Peter felt. What thoughts must have ran through his mind. One thought that might have been certain is:

Matthew Ch 10:33 But whoever disowns me before others I will disown before my Father in heaven.

No one in the Bible lived an easy life. From Adam all the way to Peter. Peter was told what kind of death he was going to have by YESHUA.

John Ch 21:18 Yes, indeed! I tell you, when you were younger, you put on your clothes and went where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."

YESHUA our LORD and MASTER HIMSELF lived the hardest life, knowing each day HE was walking closer and closer to HIS death on the cross. I can’t imagine what my Precious SAVIOR must have felt each day, knowing HE suffered through HIS days on account of me, an unworthy sinner deserving of eternal fire. Yet, HE did.

Our days are hard. The days of those who have went before us were hard. In the Book of the Martyrs by John Foxe you read accounts of brave and courageous Martyrs who were put to death in awful, agonizing, ways for the NAME of YESHUA. One woman suffered many attempts to be put to death and lived. Eventually she was trapped in a net and a bull trampled her to death.

Blandina, a slave girl, was the last to die. She was hanged from a post
and exposed to wild animals, but they would not attack. She was repeatedly tortured and eventually trapped in a net, trampled by a bull. All of the martyrs’ bodies were left unburied and guarded by soldiers.

2 Timothy Ch 3:12 And indeed, all who want to live a godly life united with the Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted,

How many of G-D’s people are being persecuted around the world today, regardless if they call themself a Christian or a Jew?

Nigeria: Muslims murder seventeen Christians in jihad raid on village in Plateau state

As I sit here and write this article I wonder: How hard do I really have it compared to others? I’ve never been burned at the stake, beheaded, shot, trampled by a bull, speared to death.

Hebrews Ch 10:36 Others underwent the trials of being mocked and whipped, then chained and imprisoned.

37 They were stoned, sawed in two, murdered by the sword; they went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated,

38 wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground! The world was not worthy of them!

Would my own faith be able to stand the test of the fires my brothers and sisters before me had to endure? I would pray so. I believe the greatest joy there is on earth is the joy of dying for YESHUA’s Precious and Risen NAME; no matter the death.

1 Peter Ch 4:1 Therefore, since the Messiah suffered physically, you too are to arm yourselves with the same attitude. For whoever has suffered physically is finished with sin,

2 with the result that he lives the rest of his earthly life no longer controlled by human desires, but by God's will.

But as I sit here, my belly full, my dogs asleep, my house cool, my Bibles open without any persecution or threats of death facing me, how easy is it for me write these words? But then I think: I’ve had to endure my own trials of fire that have tested my faith greatly. What about others?

How about parents sitting at the bedside of their child who is dying of cancer? Would not that parent rather be put to death than to see they’re child die before them? What pain and agony and suffering. How about a child that is bullied so much at school he or she commits suicide as the result? How about a woman who is raped and left for dead, only to live with the memory of what happened to her? I could go on and on, but as you can see, others suffer in ways that aren’t connected to a burning stake or a sharp blade on the neck or a saw to cut them in half.

So how do we, as men and women, make it, especially with satan continually on the attack?

1 Thessalonians Ch 5: 16 Always be joyful.

How is it possible to be always joyful with so much suffering? First we have to realize that G-D did not command us to always be ‘Happy’, but joyful. Joyful in what? HIS Eternal promises.

1 Corinthians Ch 2: 9 But, as the Tanakh says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no one's heart has imagined all the things that God has prepared for those who love him."

and

Revelation Ch 21:7 He who wins the victory will receive these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

We are in a Spiritual war that spills over into the flesh. But we have G-D’s Promises as our strength. We know that awaits us after this flesh is Eternity with G-D through YESHUA MESSIAH our LORD, forever filled with the HOLY SPIRIT in unimaginable joy, peace, happiness and life.

YESHUA had to win the victory. HE had to physically suffer in the flesh and die in ways my heart can’t understand. But HE won the victory.

Hebrews Ch 12:2 looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua - who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Pay close attention to this part of the verse: Yeshua - who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal

YESHUA knew the joy that awaited HIM, that’s why HE could endure the cross. Remember what 1 Thessalonians Ch 5:16 says? Always be joyful. Being joyful is our strength.

Nehemiah Ch 8:10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who can't provide for themselves; for today is consecrated to our Lord. Don't be sad, because the joy of ADONAI is your strength."

The Joy of ADONAI is our strength. That is how we endure, not matter what trials and fires we face. Whether we’re being burned at the stake or suffering with an incurable cancer. The Joy of the ADONAI is our strength because we know beyond the flesh HE alone has our eternity waiting. G-D holds us in HIS loving Hands each day.

John Ch 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me,

28 and I give them eternal life. They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands.

29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father's hands.

30 I and the Father are one."

G-D alone set our days. HE knows what we can and cannot endure.

Psalms Ch 139:16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed.

Do you really think G-D let us be born without hope? Without HIS GLORIOUS LIGHT shining at the end of the dark tunnel we’re in? G-D has left us HIS Promises and Joy. We know the ending. This is why we can endure. Too many times we focus entirely on the flesh and the temporary things instead of the Spirit and the Eternal Things. YESHUA was not even forty when HE died, yet HE gave up HIS life for all of mankind. How many more years would YESHUA have lived if HE had not died? Well into the years of a very old man most likely. But what would have HIS years accomplished if HE didn’t obey G-D’s Will? Nothing.

Too many times we see a young person die and say, ‘What a shame’. But what did that young person accomplish in his or her few shorts years that a man who lives to be one hundred years old never could?

Life is hard. Life is cruel. There are countless evils int his world. War. Hunger. Hate. Violence. Crime. You name it, every evil under the sun walks this earth in the hearts of mankind. Look at the Days of Noah for example. Those days were so evil G-D had to destroy the world with water. And now we have returned back to the Days of Noah. People try to find happiness in their schools, jobs, homes, vacations, new vehicles, some new fancy computer gadget and so on. But where does it get them? For a short while they may feel happy, but then the years continue on and what are they left with?

How exciting is it to walk into an amusement park as a child with all the fun rides and sounds and smells. But at the end of the day the excitement wears off and you’re ready to go home. But what if you sacrificed your eternal home for a few shorts hours at that amusement park? What then?

We’re not commanded to think of the things of this earth.

Colossians Ch 3:1 So if you were raised along with the Messiah, then seek the things above, where the Messiah is sitting at the right hand of God. c

2 Focus your minds on the things above, not on things here on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God.

4 When the Messiah, who is our life, appears, then you too will appear with him in glory!

and everything we do and say we do in the NAME of YESHUA

Colossians Ch 3:17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

We are commanded to focus on Heaven. Not earth. And that is our joy. What a joyful command—a preparatory command! We’re thinking on the things that we be part of our eternity! Joyful, pure, holy, righteous, true and eternal things that come directly from G-D’s Heart! What on earth could replace that? Nothing.

We have this promise:

2 Timothy Ch 2:11 Here is a statement you can trust: If we have died with him, we will also live with him.

What is there to worry about? To fear?

Remember what the Apostle Paul said?

Philippians Ch 1: 21 For to me, life is the Messiah, and death is gain.

I have read countless stories about people dying (I do not put any merit into near death experiences). These stories are called ‘Death Bed Visions’. You can call them what you want.

—One man, who was right at dying, suddenly changed his breathing, raised his arms, and said: “There it is! I see it! It’s beautiful!” then he lowered his arms and died.

—One little boy who was dying told his hospice nurse: “JESUS said the next time HE comes HE’s taking me with HIM.”

—One woman told her hospice nurse: “This angel comes and stands in the corner of my room and smiles at me.”

These are a few testimonies from those who have died who belong to YESHUA. We struggle and hurt and endure for a short season, but in the end the Promises of G-D come true in ways we can understand right now.

As the Book of Psalms Says:

Psalms Ch 30:5 For his anger is momentary, but his favor lasts a lifetime. Tears may linger for the night, but with dawn come cries of joy.

Yes. Life is hard. But our days were created by G-D. G-D designed our days to be hard. Why? To test our hearts and faith, as HE did the Children of Israel in the desert.

Deuteronomy 8:2 You are to remember everything of the way in which ADONAI led you these forty years in the desert, humbling and testing you in order to know what was in your heart - whether you would obey his mitzvot or not.

3 He humbled you, allowing you to become hungry, and then fed you with man, which neither you nor your ancestors had ever known, to make you understand that a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of ADONAI.

I believe of G-D isn’t testing you then you aren’t where you need to be for G-D. If all you want is an easy walk with G-D then you are serving the wrong G-D. Not one man or woman G-D chose in the Bible lived and easy life. All of them were put through fire. Are you any different? The problem is, many who claim to belong to G-D do not want the desert. They want to immediately go to the Promised Land. It doesn’t work that way.

In the desert the Children of Israel had the promise of someday entering the Promised Land. G-D’s PRESENCE led them, a column of cloud by day and a column of fire by night. G-D fed them Manna and gave them water. Their ankles didn’t swell up and their clothes didn’t wear out. Were they tired, hot, weary? I think so. But they made it by G-D’s Strength and Grace and not by their own strength. On their own they would have perished in the desert.

Yes. Life is hard. Difficult. Painful. Upsetting. And at times, even impossible it seems. But we have G-D’s Promises to carry us through and the Joy of ADONAI is our strength. No one said making it to Heaven will be easy. The climb up is a lot harder than the climb down.

If you’re going through your own trials and fires today reach out to G-D with all your heart, remember the sufferings of YESHUA our LORD how HE endured for the joy set before HIM, remember your brothers and sisters who have suffered before you as well, and let the Joy of the LORD be your strength. Set your minds on the things above where YESHUA sits at the Right HAND of G-D, not the things of this world. Claim the promises of G-D as your own and understand that beyond this flesh awaits Glory beyond comprehension.

Endure to the end.

Matthew Ch 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

YESHUA forgave Peter for denying HIM. YESHUA also told Peter what kind of death he would die. Peter endured. No one is worthy. It’s by G-D’s Love and Grace alone that we make it to the end through YESHUA our LORD.

Shalom and blessings.