Ancient Words: His Second Coming, Abound in Endurance

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope (Rom 15:4).”

The hope that Paul is referring to is the hope for eternal life which comes with His Second Coming. This hope is cultivated through the Scriptures, through the Ancient Words, which teach us by example both encouragement and endurance through the stories of old. Abraham is known for his faith in the story of Isaac, yet what is overlooked is the great endurance Abraham had in carrying out his faith: Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you (Gen 22:1-5).” What endurance this dad had as he traveled for 3 days knowing what was required of him. What did he tell Sarah? Did he explain to her his conversation with the Lord, or did he hold this burden completely within himself. For sure, he did not want the servants to see what was about to take place. Yet, through all the mental anguish that Abraham must have gone through, his strong faith upheld his endurance so that this seemingly impossible task could be accomplished.

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son (Gen 22:6-12).”

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown (Rev 3:10-11).” “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving (endurance) for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2Co 4:16-18).”

Scott and Jane Johnson minister with East Faulkner Church of Christ and BRG Bible. Bible questions can be sent to [email protected].

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