Coming out of the temple one day, Jesus told his disciples that the famed building would be destroyed along with the entire city of Jerusalem. Now that got their attention! They peppered Him with questions and Jesus told them about many upsetting events that would happen first. Then He said, “By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Luke 21:19).  

God put us in a world that is full of upsets and troubling events. Peaceful conditions rarely last exceptionally long. Things were going very well in our country not long ago, and now we’re scrambling to get past a world pandemic. We can get through most troubles by practicing endurance. Just like Jesus said, “By your endurance you will gain your lives.” Another word for this is pluck, the ability to bounce back and keep on going.

About fifty years ago I made friends with a young Christian man who was part of a small, struggling congregation in NW Ontario. We lost track of each other as our lives went separate directions. But when we were living in Edmonton 35 years later, he came to one of our church meetings and we had a great time catching up with each other. He was in the city on a business trip, but his home base is Vancouver where he’s a member of the Burnaby Church of Christ. His life has had many trials, but he has endured through them all and maintained his faith. You could say he has loads of pluck.

The Hebrew Christians had lots of people against them and many were suffering. They were told, “Therefore do not throw away your confidence which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” (Heb.10:35-36). They could get through their troubles if they just practiced endurance. And so can we.

Does you life have pluck?

– Tim Johnson