Character that Stands the Test

For most of us, the days that lie ahead are going to test our endurance. They are not going to be easy. I really believe the challenge that lies ahead is the test of character and loyalty. If you and I will stand the test, we will come out like gold that has been tried in the fire.

Dans cette lettre je voudrais cibler un simple mot : la persévérance. Ce mot n’est ni très populaire, ni très bien compris. Cependant, je crois que nous vivons des temps où il devient de plus en plus important de comprendre ce que signifie persévérer.

Un trait nécessaire

La version King James de la Bible a été traduite il y a plus de 300 ans, et le sens de certains mots a changé. Normalement, la version King James utilise le mot patience là où aujourd’hui on utiliserait plutôt le mot persévérance. Et là où nous parlerions de patience, la version King James utilise endurance.

Patience (ou endurance) est une volonté d’opposer une résistance à des personnes, des situations, ou des circonstances, sans se mettre en colère-rester maître de soi et ne pas sortir de ses gonds. C’est une vertu chrétienne de grande valeur. Je suis conscient du fait que je pourrais en user plus moi même. Mais quand la version King James utilise le mot patience, l’équivalent moderne serait endurance ou persévérance-ce sont les mots qui sont utilisés dans la plupart des traductions modernes de la Bible. La forme verbale qu’utilise la version King James Version est habituellement « persévérer. »

En guise d’introduction à mon sujet, regardons les versets de deux textes : Matthieu 24 et Marc 13. Chacun de ces chapitres est une vision prophétique, donnée par Jésus sur le Mont des Oliviers, quant à la situation mondiale durant les temps qui précéderont de peu Son retour. Beaucoup des choses dont il parlait à ce moment là se manifestent visiblement dans le monde d’aujourd’hui. Mon but dans cette lettre, n’est cependant pas d’explorer des interprétations prophétiques, mais de cibler ce trait de caractère dont Jésus dit que nous aurons besoin pour traverser des temps comme ceux-là :

Un avertissement clair

Dans notre premier passage des Écritures, Matthieu 24:12-13, nous voyons un avertissement clair de Jésus.

« Et, parce que l’iniquité se sera accrue, l’amour du plus grand nombre se refroidira. Mais celui qui persévérera jusqu’à la fin sera sauvé. » (Matthieu 24:12–13 ; version Segond, charité = amour, de nos jours, NdT)

Remarquez qu’il y a une connexion directe entre l’iniquité et le manque d’amour. Quand les gens commettent l’iniquité ils perdent l’amour.

Nous pensons souvent à l’amour comme quelque chose de spontané et de libre, qui ne requiert ni discipline ni lois. En fait, ce n’est pas juste. L’amour et la discipline marchent main dans la main.

Quand la discipline et la loi se détériorent, l’amour se refroidit. Le mot pour amour au verset 12 est agape, ce qui fait essentiellement référence à l’amour des chrétiens. Jésus n’est pas entrain de dire que c’est l’amour du monde qui se refroidit, mais celui des chrétiens.

Au milieu de ce climat terriblement triste — L’iniquité accrue et l’amour se refroidissant — Jésus dit, « Mais celui qui persévérera jusqu’à la fin sera sauvé. » Vous devez persévérer jusqu’à la fin. Le Grec original dit, « Celui qui aura persévéré jusqu’à la fin, c’est celui qui sera sauvé. »

Un image très sombre

En Marc 13 vous remarquerez que l’avertissement est répété :

« Le frère livrera son frère à la mort, et le père son enfant ; les enfants se soulèveront contre leurs parents, et les feront mourir. Vous serez haïs de tous, à cause de mon nom, mais celui qui persévérera jusqu’à la fin sera sauvé » (Segond).

C’est un image très sombre du degré de tromperie et de déloyauté qui sévit au cœur même des relations familiales, mais aussi envers les chrétiens qui seront haïs par les hommes. Là encore, l’exhortation reste la même : persévérer. Nous devons tenir bon. Quelque fois, tenir bon est tout ce que Dieu nous demande-mais ça peut être un « job » à plein temps.

J’ai rencontré un missionnaire suédois qui a travaillé en France pendant de longues années. Et il m’a dit avoir visité une prison près de Marseille, dans le sud de la France, où les huguenots français (les protestants de l’époque) avaient été emprisonnés à cause de leur foi. Plusieurs d’entre eux sont entrés dans le donjon de la prison pour ne plus jamais en ressortir. Le missionnaire m’a raconté qu’un des prisonniers avait gravé sur la pierre du donjon un unique mot : résister. C’est le message qu’un croyant a laissé à tous ceux qui devaient le suivre dans ce lieu : Résistez.

Ne laissez pas tomber. Tenez le coup. Persévérez. Je crois que Dieu nous parle par ces mots aujourd’hui. Je prie que Dieu, au travers de Sa Parole, mette de l’acier dans votre âme et vous donne une colonne vertébrale spirituelle, si vous n’en avez pas encore.

The Fruit of Tribulation

Let’s now consider some very simple principles about how we can cultivate endurance.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1–2)

We rejoice because of what the future holds for us. But Paul goes on to say that we rejoice not only for what the future holds, but also for what the present offers—even though it is very different.

And not only in that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (vv. 3–4)

Where verse 3 uses the word glory, the word in Greek means to rejoice, boast, or exult. Why should we exult in tribulation? Because of what tribulation does.

The New American Standard version says, “Tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.” Perseverance produces proven character in us. This is the heart of endurance—character.

We rejoice (boast, glory, or exult) in tribulation because tribulation is the only factor that produces perseverance—and perseverance produces proven character. Throughout my life, I have walked with numerous brothers and sisters with whom I have shared hardship, opposition, misrepresentation, and misunderstanding—even misunderstanding between them and me. But today, for me, their character is proven. I know I can trust them. In times of treachery and lawlessness, I want to know whom I can trust.

What About Me?

First of all, though, I want to be sure that I can be trusted. You and I are well aware of the daily pressures that tempt us to serve ourselves at the expense of others. Wouldn’t we be horribly ashamed if pressure could make us unfaithful or disloyal to brothers and sisters to whom we are committed in the Body of Christ?

In this regard, let’s look at the first chapter of Colossians:

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. … (Colossians 1:9–11)

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God wants you and me to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding? Paul gives the reason: “that you may walk worthy of the Lord.” Let’s keep in mind that when we are filled with the knowledge of God’s will, it will affect the way we live. It will even affect how we handle adversity.

It is one thing to suffer long; it is quite another thing to suffer long with joyfulness. It takes endurance and strength to do that. Patience and endurance are marks of strength; they are not marks of weakness.

It’s a Marathon

Let’s now look at Hebrews 12:1:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Here the writer of Hebrews envisions life as a race that has to be run. At the finish line there is a great throng of spectators waiting to see who will win. This throng of spectators is all the saints who have already finished their course and are waiting there ready to cheer for us from the balconies of heaven.

Where he says, “lay aside every weight,” we must think in terms of this race. The runner empties his pockets and wears the lightest, most flexible clothing he can. He doesn’t carry a single, unnecessary ounce of weight. We need to remember that some activities are not sins—but they are weights that can burden us down and hold us back. They exhaust our strength or lure us into spending too much time and attention on them.

Remember, this is not a sprint. It is a long, deliberate race. The characteristic that is required is endurance. Many people start off the Christian life as if it were a dash. A little while later, they are panting beside the track. They are worn out, and they have hardly even begun the race.

The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. … (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

It isn’t speed or strength that counts—but endurance.

Building Character Together

One of the great tests to really check our character is the test of close, committed fellowship—such as the small group where you meet every week with the same people and share your life with them. After a little while, it becomes uncomfortably clear to you that there are some areas of your life that have never really been dealt with. You realize that when you weren’t too close to people or too intimate, you could cover up these areas. But when you are involved week by week in regular, intimate, close fellowship, you either have to back out or correct your life.

My friend Bob Mumford once said, “Suppose there are ten areas in our character that need to be changed. You can probably deal with six yourself. But the remaining four are going to need other people to put their finger on.” I think that is a pretty good average.

If I do not open myself up to others, I can deceive myself about areas of my character. But committed fellowship doesn’t afford me the same opportunities to deceive myself. Somebody once said fellowship is “roof off, walls down.” We don’t mind getting the roof off, because God sees through the roof anyhow. But what about getting the walls down and letting people see?

There is no greater test of our Christian character than close fellowship.

In my next letter we will explore this theme further. For now, let’s meditate on the Scriptures we have covered and ask the Lord to help us build a character of endurance. As we close this letter, why don’t we take a minute together to bring that request to Jesus?