It is 9:11pm EST. I am watching the beginning of game 7 of the NBA finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. Tuesday night I struggled to stay awake as the Miami Heat took the San Antonio Spurs to overtime, to win, and force a game 7. But tonight is game 7 and the winner takes it all. As I am writing this I don’t know who will win the final game of the NBA finals or who we will be crowned the world champions. Nonetheless if you enjoy athletics and competition chances are you have enjoyed this series. The games have been close, exciting and somewhat of a battle. But I don’t want to talk so much about the games, the close calls or the blowouts. I don’t even want to focus on the buzzer beater layup by Lebron or the 3 point shot that Ray Allen hit to bring game 6 to an overtime victory and a reality for the Heat that they still have a chance to become world champions.
However the shot that I remember from game 6 was a shot that the camera man captured of Pat Riley as the clock was winding down on the Miami Heat and what looked like “game over” for the Heat and the Spurs would win and the Heat would have to wait until next year. I even thought it was over. But what caught my eye about the camera shot of Riley was the fans that were leaving the arena around him. He was intense. He was showing concern but the fans around had given up and were leaving. They thought it was over; but it wasn’t. As I set and watched the Miami Heat come back and win a game that looked like there was know chance of winning I wondered what the fans who left early were thinking when they got into their cars and turned their radios on, or maybe watched Sports Center when they got home that night or maybe even the next day.
Can you stay too long? Probably. But I also believe there are times in life when we give up before its over and quit before we know the outcome. As humans we have learned the easy way out and if there is any inconvenience we seem to give up under the tension. Perseverance and consistency are 2 words we don’t hear very often and we don’t see them lived out in our culture. Here is a definition for Perseverance: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : the action or condition or an instance of persevering: steadfastness.
In America we have lost sight that life is not always easy and in reality for the most part is somewhat difficult. Life is not always pain-free, comfortable and easy. I was listening to a Podcast today that was talking about Job who said, “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, but blessed be the name of the Lord.” I know you and I don’t (sarcasm added) but many complain about a difficult circumstances in life and the presumption of their complaint is that the difficulty their experiencing is unusually abnormal. However, the reality is life is sometimes difficult!
Difficult people are common. People who break commitments are numerous. Not getting your way is not easy. Being frustrated is reality for most. Being misunderstood is going to happen. Things in this world break down. (and by the way it is halftime and the game is tied at 54) It is not unusual to have a piece of equipment or technology fail to function. You will misplace things. You may not always have enough money to buy everything that you want. Relationships are difficult. Extended family problems are normal. Life is sometimes a struggle and people aren’t always kind.
John records Jesus words when He was on the earth.He told His followers this: “I’ve told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble.” But He said He is saying this so that we might have peace and He tells us to “take heart” because He has overcome the world. Life will be difficult but we can’t give up when it does. We can’t quit before it’s over and we can’t leave before we know the outcome.
The Message version of the Bible says, “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process with glory just around the corner.” Galatians tells us not to lose heart when it comes to doing good because if we don’t give up we will reap a harvest in due time.
In America we give up way too soon and way too easy. We have learned the easy way out and if it doesn’t go our way we quit! Most of humanity in our culture today are exceptionally fragile. Most people can’t handle hardships without complaining to someone. We give up way too easy. People give up on their marriages way too soon. Many waiver in their faith with no legitimate reason. We are easily offended. We easily quit. We throw in the towel way too soon. Just think about the people you know who have quit over minor and trivial issues. We as a culture need to learn the art of “perseverance.”
What Can Help You Persevere?
1. Realize God Honors Perseverance.
– Paul said, “Having done all stand.” God will honor you as you stand in faith. Matt. 24:13 says, “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
2. Realize the Only True Way to Persevere is Through the Power of the Holy Spirit.
– The best of intentions aren’t good enough. You must have the power of the Holy Spirit to empower you. II Cor. says, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life, indeed in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened so that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead.” The arm of the flesh will grow weak but the power of the Holy Spirit always sustains.
3. Realize You Must Pray for Perseverance.
– The Bible teaches us to, “ask, seek and knock.” If we are going to perservere in a world that is full of difficulties, we must receive power from on high and we receive that power though prayer. Our human will will fail. When things look hopeless we tend to quit. Ask God for the grace to Persevere and see what happens.
In game 6 people left before it was over. They left before they knew the outcome. Sometimes you have to “stick it out” to see the outcome and in doing so you might be surprised at what happens. So I admonish you: Don’t give up so easily. Don’t quit too soon, who knows what the outcome will be if you pray for the “power” and “grace” to persevere. You might be like the Miami Heat; playing for it all. And by the way it is the 4th quarter and the Miami Heat are leading the San Antonio Spurs 88 – 85.
I am done writing now and I still don’t know the outcome of the game. I won’t know until I post this who will be the NBA World Champions. What I do know as Pat Riley and I watched on in game 6 people left the arena thinking it was over and that their team had lost; but that wasn’t the case, they won! Don’t quit too soon! Don’t leave too early! Ask God for the grace and power to persevere and see what happens!
*[Update 8:05am EST- the Miami Heat won game 7 and they are the 2013 NBA World Champions]
