Original: January 8, 2008
McMinnville, OR
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. 2 Timothy 3:10-11
For about a month after my 2008 Eastern Oregon Wilderness hunt, two of the toes on my left foot were numb throughout the day. After doing research online to eliminate my fears about a heart issue, talking to people, and calling the medical helpline from my insurance company I came to the conclusion that I had experienced moderate frost bite.
As previously mentioned backpacking involves bringing enough gear for every contingency, but not so much that your pack is overloaded. Boots, however, are the problem. I have two pairs of hunting boots that I use for two types of weather; an insulated pair for cold weather and an un-insulated pair for warm weather hunts. Obviously, you know by now that I opted for the lighter, un-insulated, version for my Oregon hunt and paid the price!
As I read this passage several things came to mind.
Timothy was nurtured by Paul to the degree that Paul actually refers to Timothy as his spiritual son (1Timothy 1:18). I am sure that much of Paul’s’ early training of Timothy involved Timothy simply watching Paul model certain behaviors, one of which was “endurance” (NIV). However, the New American Standard translation uses a different word for endurance- “perseverance”.
Recently, I wrote that there is no endurance without first seeing the “end”, but I would like to put a different twist on my original observation. There is usually something “severe” that acts as a catalyst that compels a man to persevere. In other words, a man cannot have perseverance without having to endure something severe. In the mountains I was forced to overcome the snow and cold, which left my toes numb. In the Christian life God uses our trials and hardships to develop perseverance.
In fact James, the brother of Jesus, tells us to “consider it all joy when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (1:2)”. In other words you cannot develop perseverance/endurance without severe resistance, pain, persecution, or trials.
A graduating senior recently shared that she was quitting her job. When I inquired about her rationale behind this decision she told me it was because everyone at her work, except for her boss who she led to Christ a few weeks earlier, hated her because she was a Christian. I smiled and affirmed her for the severe treatment she was going through and quoted 2 Timothy 3:12, which happens to be exactly one verse following today’s verse that states plainly, “all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Do you want to live for Christ and develop that character trait of endurance/perseverance in your life? Good, get ready to experience the end of endurance through some severe conditions. Remember there is no need to persevere with out something severe.
When God prepares to build a man’s endurance He first brings severe weather.
Wear your storm gear men!
