Articles
“To the End”
Old-timers talk about hoeing weeds out of the cotton patch. It was sweaty, exhausting work, but no matter how hard it was, you had to “hoe your row to the end.”
Chopping cotton may be a thing of the past, but isn’t perseverance as much needed today as ever? How can anyone succeed in school, athletics, business, or marriage without staying power? And how much character does it take to call it quits?
No one needs to hang in there more than Christians. Our race begins at baptism. We don’t cross the finish line until we die or Christ returns, whichever comes first.
. . . and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matt. 10:22—emphasis added; cf. Matt. 24:13)
For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Heb. 3:14)
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end…. (Heb. 6:11)
The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations…. (Rev. 2:26).
Yes, the cost of endurance is high indeed, but the cost of quitting is far higher! We have so much to gain by finishing what we started—and so much to lose if we don’t.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
