Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
We can get some pretty cold weather up here in northern Minnesota, but it is nothing in comparison to what the Emperor Penguins have to deal with in Antarctica. This large and curious looking bird must overcome conditions that most other animals cannot survive. It’s been claimed that in their environment, temperatures can drop to nearly 60 below Fahrenheit with winds that can reach up to 200 mph. In order to survive, they have to overcome these harsh surroundings. God created them with a thick double layer of downy feathers, and smaller beaks and flippers in order to prevent heat loss. They even have special fats that are stored in their feet to prevent them from freezing, along with strong claws for gripping the cold ice. Like snow pants, they have feathers on their legs to keep their ankles from getting cold. Many times huge groups will form into a massive huddle, constantly moving around, which reduces their heat loss by up to 50%. It can be very difficult to find something to eat when their habitats are completely frozen over, not to mention being regularly hunted by seals and orcas.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
To endure means to suffer patiently, through whatever difficult situations that present themselves. Like the penguins, we need to learn to deal with and get through them, whatever they may be. This world is a harsh and unforgiving land, but if we want to inherit eternal life someday, we must persevere and remain in the teachings of our faith. Like soldiers in extreme conditions, we must endure whatever this world can throw at us.
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3
When we look out in the world today, we are surrounded by a sea of lies. Many people are being deceived and are deceiving others. Whenever a soldier of Christ takes a stand for the truth of God’s Word, they are going to enter into some type of persecution or affliction for the Gospel’s sake.
“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5
The last thing that many people want to hear is the truth. The reason why is because if they accept it, that means that they are living a lie. It also means that they would have to turn away from the way that they are living their life, to the narrow path of Christ. Anyone who chooses to walk the Christian Life, is going to enter into some type of suffering.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Psalms 34:19
Many times the Apostle Paul had to deal with a very harsh environment.
2 Corinthians 11 ²² Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. ²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. ²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. ²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. ²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
The Apostle had learned to take pleasure in sufferings for Christ’s sake.
2 Corinthians 12 ⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
In this world, evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse right up until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Look around, it’s happening as we speak. This world is surrounded by false prophets who are trying to turn people away from the truth of the Christian Life. They have entered into high places of religious authority, even pulpits where they are preaching a false gospel to the world, but those who follow them will be damned with them. When somebody finally stands up for the truth, it brings on hatred and persecution from the impenitent. People whom you think would care about you, will turn on you. You will be betrayed by your wife, family members and your own relatives, but those who endure these cruel conditions shall be saved. Praise God for his Deliverance!
Matthew 24 ¹⁰ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. ¹¹ And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. ¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. ¹³ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
The Thessalonian church was enduring hardships as a loyal brigade for Christ Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 1 ⁴ So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: ⁵ Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” 2 Timothy 1:8
Whenever we have to deal with harsh surroundings in this world, remember what the Lord Jesus went through in order to save us.
Hebrews 12 ¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Like birds out on a polar ice pack, we must survive the bitter cold and the darkness of this world. We must survive the harsh and sinful environment that surrounds us. To obtain eternal life, each of us will have to endure all the way to the end, just like…..
…. The Emperor Penguins
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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