It’s been nearly a month now since a small spacecraft landed on Mars. It had been many years in planning, and it’s successful landing was a remarkable achievement. One of its objectives is to bring back samples of Mars rock to the earth. But it will be many years before they get here.

The spacecraft is aptly named ‘Perseverance’. In it for the long haul.

In many ways it’s like the end of the pandemic – we can see light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s not here yet. So, we need patience, also conviction – a belief that it is indeed ending.

This is perseverance. And there is a strong parallel in the Christian life.

How do we keep going in the Christian faith? I remember someone asking the question at a Sunday evening meeting some years ago, “My biggest fear is that I’ll drop away. How do I know that I’ll still be walking with God in the future?”

It seems to me that our answers to that question can lie on a spectrum.

At one end there is presumption. At the other end, despair.

Presumption says – I made a decision x years ago. Once saved always saved. I don’t need to do anything.

Despair says – I have no assurance I’m saved, I keep trying, but I’m constantly anxious.

While it’s possible to find ‘proof-texts’ in the Bible for both of those views, that can only be done by ignoring other passages. The Bible actually teaches that both those views are incorrect.

The truth lies between.

 It is true that God works in us and will complete the work he started. But he also calls us to work out our own salvation. (Take a look at Philippians 1:6 and Philippians 2:12-13)

How do we reconcile that? Because it’s a relationship. And like any relationship it takes time and commitment from both parties.

On God’s side, this is a trinitarian work. The Father has loved us from all eternity. He sent his Son, who willingly came to suffer and die in our place in order to atone for our sins (that is to pay the penalty that was ours). The Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit to bring us into a new life, to sustain us in this life and to enable our growth in this new relationship with God.

For us, we respond to God’s call with faith, repentance and worship. We love God and demonstrate that love through obedience and trust.

We ‘spend time with one another’ through the Word and prayer.

And we are not left alone. As well as the Holy Spirit’s empowering and enabling, we are placed into a family of believers where we can encourage and build up each other.

The definition of perseverance has idea of something that is long-term and continues through difficulties. God has not promised us an easy life – in fact quite the opposite – but he has promised us an eternal home. He’s promised us that his presence will go with us. And he promises that all things will work out for our good.

So as we see that the end of the pandemic is coming, but we still have to live in a lockdown, in the same way we know that ‘the Day is drawing near’ so we should ‘stir up one another to love and good works’ and ‘encourage one another’ (Hebrews 10:24-25). That includes, of course, encouragement to spend time ‘in your chair’!