"But he who endures to the end shall be saved." Matthew 24.13
Certainly, perseverance has not been the strongest trait of the majority. However, there is no other alternative to achieve the salvation of the soul.
Why?
Because the devil perseveres in his quest of getting back the souls he lost. And whoever is more perseverant wins. Those who get discouraged lose.
That is why Jesus exhorts us to persevere to the end.
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" 2 Corinthians 10.4
Non carnal weapons means spiritual weapons.
And why spiritual weapons?
Because if our war is against the spiritual forces of evil, how to overcome them if we do not have spiritual weapons?
And how could we possess spiritual weapons if we are not spiritual?
And how to be spiritual if we are not born of the Spirit?
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’" Matthew 25.6
The prophetic cry has been echoed around the world. But who will listen? There are virgins waiting for the Bridegroom and virgins corrupting themselves with other boyfriends. Time is near, the faithful virgins know this and are prepared. The unfaithful, however, enjoy life with the delay of the Bridegroom.
"Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?" Matthew 23.17
The question of Jesus to the hypocrites of that time serves us well nowadays. The offering is not more important than the One who receives it and sanctifies it. The sacrifice of Isaac, was not more important than the obedience of his father. God sees the faith, the spirit that moves the heart of the offering giver.
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,But now my eye sees You." Job 42.5
One thing is to be aware of His existence, to be certain of His compassion and Greatness. This is very important.
But still, it does not satisfy the yearnings of the soul. We must know Him personally.
This is the mission of the Holy Spirit to those who TRULY want to know Him.
"They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.'" John 8.39
The children of Abraham do the works of Abraham. Those who make excuses to avoid Abraham's example of sacrificial obedience have nothing to do with him.
In other words, Jesus is saying that anyone who does not imitate Abraham is not his child in faith.
"You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections." 2 Corinthians 6.12
Most people have been limited by the feelings of the deceiving heart. Faith gets stuck in time and gets old...
That is why one needs to be born of the Spirit and become a new creature. A spiritual creature who does not walk by visible things, but by the invisible, which are eternal.
