Running the race to completion, being the faithful servant until the end, the returning prodigal son. There are many expressions for us persevering until the end.
I look back on my life now and have to pray for courage and strength not to despair over the poor choices I have made and to glorify God with how much work He has done in me. Part of the reason this website exists.
We may think that being the always faithful servant is the best, and for some it is. I take some solace that sacred scripture is filled with examples of mankind that have made poor choices, but were called back by God.
Called to the familial covenant, and called to willingly offer ourselves; following Jesus through the sheep’s gate. That by Jesus’s sacrifice, ours might be acceptable and pleasing to Our Father.
I have no disillusion about how things work. It was and always is by His mercy that I can respond to His grace. Our Father wants all of us to be reconciled to Him, that is why God became man as Jesus to offer the only acceptable sacrifice.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that there is merit to each ending – faithfully all along and returning to Our Father. But I know enough to know that I could never make a call on what is more pleasing to God.
From my perspective, what matters is what we do when we are called to Him. Do we reject, do we pretend to follow Him, or do we surrender? I have done the first two, and honestly speaking surrendering is much more rewarding, not easier in the sense that I don’t struggle, but giving all I am to Him is much more fulfilling.
Perseverance is not about perfection, but about constantly choosing God over everything else. No matter how many times we fall. We cry out earnestly, fervently, and never stop seeking Him. We consciously try to put God in the forefront of all we do, and it eventually will have rippling effects on all parts of the lives we have been blessed with.
How ever we come(back) to God, we should glorify him. We should glorify the God that loves us enough to suffer with and for us; for the sake of our souls and persevere with Him. Persevere towards Him.
Let us surrender enough to let His grace, mercy, and love work in and through us! Glory to God!
