Matthew 10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
While prophesying of an impending great tribulation, our Lord exhorts every generation in their own periods of tribulation. True Christianity experiences venomous hatred in every generation, some more so than others. Our Lord tells us that “he that endureth to the end [that is, “to the end” of our present tribulation) shall be saved”; that is “saved” from hopeless ruin in our present tribulation. One of the greatest and most precious testimonies of our “faith”, is to endure our tribulations while remaining faithful to our Lord, His Word, His Church, and His people. Hebrews Chapter Eleven lists those who endured troubles, trials, tribulations, and even grotesque tortures; yet, they are well spoken of for they endured “to the end”. The Lord further instructs us: “when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come” (Matthew 10:23). From the very beginning of the New Testament period, faithful Children of God have fled from one place to another seeking freedom to worship our Lord according to His Word. The Lord lovingly encourages us, telling us that “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come”; that is, until He comes to take us Home, He will always provide a place for us to flee to where we can “worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). And, “he that endureth to the end shall be saved”; that is, “saved” from hopeless despair and the shame of capitulation; He “will not leave” us “comfortless” (John 14:18). We are highly blessed in our Country, for our Constitution prohibits the Government from restricting the free exercise of our faith; yet, many do not like Christianity and want to muzzle us and remove us from public discourse; but, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” (Psalms 91:2)! The greatest testimony of our faith and love toward our God is to endure what ever is thrown at us, while remaining worshipfully faithful to Him; James tells us, “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11). None of us enjoy tribulations, and we try to avoid them, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (I Peter 4:16)! The Lord will empower us to endure (Philippians 4:13), as we pass through our tribulations “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.” (Hebrews 12:2)!