Courage, Perseverance And Faith

Daniel is a great book to read. I think it may very well be my favorite in the Old Testament. In spite of being hauled away into exile in a foreign country, where they couldn’t even retain the identity of their own language and the names given to them by their parents, young Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah held firm to their God.

I have always admired the courage it took to stand before such powerful rulers and politely refuse to deny their God when the consequence was being burned to death or eaten by lions. I have loved learning, from their experiences, that God truly is omnipotent and that He intervenes on behalf of those He loves.

I like to think that the faith I have in God is durable. That it will persevere through whatever trouble He allows or orchestrates in my life. That I will always face adversity with courage.

The truth is, I don’t always meet bad news the way I would like to. And when bad news is followed by bad news, and then MORE bad news, perseverance becomes a matter of will over weariness rather than my idealized version of courage. You know, the kind where a wounded Eowyn picks up her sword to face evil, says I am no man! and slays the nazgul.

Today my ‘nazgul’ is mold. You’d think bad news would get easier to hear with practice. The reality is that each round of bad news needs to be greeted with fresh courage. Newt Gingrich has said: Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.

I’m tired of mold. The flooding of Sanctuary’s main house was bad enough. Having everything inside brought outside - ruined things, saved things, personal things – was bad. Losing pieces of our eclectic collection of thrift and antique store treasures and family heirlooms and musical instruments was bad. Having the air inside so poisonous that we had to wear HAZMAT masks to enter was bad. Watching the walls, ceilings, floorings ripped out was bad. Having men suited up like astronauts so they could spread more poison, this time to kill the mold, was bad. And just when I thought we’d made it past the deconstruction of Sanctuary, I’m told the mold hasn’t been eradicated after all.

So, yes, I’m tired of mold. But this morning, not long before they broke the news that the air is still bad in the big house, I read from the book of Daniel, chapter 7.

But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come (verse 18).

I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom (verses 21-22).

It kind of sounds like something from the Lord Of The Rings. And I am reminded that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Sanctuary, though it has been the dream of my heart for almost as long as I can remember, is not the kingdom referred to in the book of Daniel. We just want it to be a little taste of the goodness that is to come for everyone who graces us with their company.

A place of rest and refreshment.

A place to regain courage and perseverance and faith when things have been tough.

A place that is good enough to help us in the cosmic war that is being waged against the saints.

But a place that doesn’t claim to be that Kingdom which we will one day take possession of only by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I don’t know if we will need such things as courage, perseverance and faith in that eternal Kingdom where Jesus reigns. But today, when I am tired of mold, knowing that there is such a place where I will laugh at such things, or perhaps have no memory of them at all, gives me courage to persevere.

And that is not a bad thing.