Building Your Legacy – Pillar 5 – Perseverance
By: Pastor George Lehman
(How can I even try and explain the absolute importance of this word Perseverance. This pillar sets those who leave a legacy and those who don’t.)
Tough times introduce you to yourself.
What is coming out of you?
There is a saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and a legacy that outlives you won’t be built in a day either. It takes a lifetime of perseverance.
A legacy that blesses our children, our grandchildren, our great grandchildren and our spiritual family: will take a tremendous investment of your time, energy and resources.
As you seek to build a lasting godly legacy, you will face many trials and temptations throughout your life. Simply put “Life happens.”
The bible has a lot to say about how we should handle these trials, when they come not if they come.
If you don’t know how to press in, press through and keep going, you can be sure you have no chance of building a lasting legacy.
Author Irving Stone has spent a lifetime studying greatness, writing novelized biographies of such men as Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Sigmund Freud and Charles Darwin.
Stone was once asked if he had found a thread that runs through the lives of all these exceptional people. He said, “I write about people who sometime in their life…have a vision or dream of something that should be accomplished…and they go to work.
“They are beaten over the head, knocked down, spoken badly of and for years they seem to get nowhere. But every time they’re knocked down, they stand up. You cannot destroy these people. And at the end of their lives, they’ve accomplished some modest part of what they set out to do.” What a Legacy
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.
Education will not; the world is full of educated *derelicts. *(Verlate)
(Derelict: People who have nothing to show – a result of disuse and neglect)
Persistence and determination alone are powerful.
The slogan: “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. (Calvin Coolidge)
Perseverance means that through the power of Holy Spirit we are able to continue in the Christian way even while facing trials on every side.
Perseverance is a gift of God’s grace whereby we continue to patiently depend upon Jesus.
What does the bible teach us about how to handle trials and how to persevere through them?
James 1:2-4 (NIV) – 2Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Clearly Jesus is encouraging us that trials help us develop perseverance.
Which plays an essential role in each of us becoming mature children of God.
Lasting legacies are built only by maturity. – Not by people who give up every time they face a challenge, or some difficulty in their life.
For professional fighters every loss is a challenge, not a defeat.
They know if they don’t make significant changes, they will never be more than your average fighter. Don’t you become an average Christian.
If we are going to hand down a different legacy to our loved ones, our friends and the world.
We are going to have to make a commitment to ensure that our perseverance pillar is firmly planted.
In General people want the prize at the end of the race; but make no effort to run the Race! People really believe God is okay with my sinful life.
A godly legacy does not just miraculously happen, it takes serious stick ability and steadfastness which is Perseverance.
A legacy minded person is focused on finishing strong.
They are willing to persevere through whatever life hands them because the prize is worth whatever it takes to get there.
Sometimes the best things take time, lots of time.
As we hope for those “Sudden-lies” and miraculous breakthroughs
The reality is that God often calls us to persevere for a length of time.
Job 23:10 (NIV) – But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
It’s these times when our Faith is tested our legacies are built.
Hebrews 10:36 (NIV) – You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
We want the promises without the perseverance!
Romans 5:3-4 (NIV) – 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV) – And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
Building a legacy is not a game, it’s not cute – it’s not just dressing up and going to church to please your wife/ husband / parents / Pastor.
We have a real enemy who “Prowls like a roaring lion looking to *devour us.” 1 Peter 5:8
*Devour = Destroy
NB! It’s the persevering Christians who are the legacy leaving Christians.
We need to be on our guard. We need to persevere like a good Soldier and never forget who we serve. Who gives us power to proceed.
The race of life is not won by the fastest, the one who can quote scripture, the one who makes great spiritual claims – BUT –
By the one who perseveres and build their legacy each and every day.
James 1:12 (NIV) – Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
– o O o –
