Jesus teaches that, in the end, those who endure will not only be saved, but they will be busy meanwhile. Enduring is not hiding out until the hardship passes... there's work to do...
Matthew 24:9-14 9 "Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Enduring matters. Not only will those enduring be saved, but they will be doing purposeful work meanwhile: proclaiming the news of the kingdom out of a warm heart full of love. By definition, those who endure will have proclaimed the gospel despite torture, betrayal, hate, - even after watching others die and "the church" move away from following Christ.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that enduring matters? Is the church teaching Jesus' followers to not only proclaim the kingdom (do we even know what the kingdom is?), but to endure despite extreme hardships by living out of a heart of love?
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