In his last letter to Timothy the apostle Paul wrote: "This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us" (2 Timothy 2:11-12). What do we have to endure today? Our willingness to endure seems to be quite important!

We have three very basic and very real forces in this life to endure and to overcome. These forces are their own human nature (Jeremiah 17:9), the downward pull of this present evil world (Galatians 1:3-5) and the influences and deceitfulness of Satan, the god of this present world (James 4:7).

These downward pulls have been influencing mankind negatively from the very beginning. These negative forces have caused mankind to progressively degenerate to the point that God had to erase most of mankind, with the exception of Noah and his immediate family, from off the earth by a global flood and begin again through Noah’s family. Moreover, very shortly after the Flood, God had to slow the downward progress of mankind by confusing the languages at the Tower of Babel.

Mankind today is approaching the same point it found itself at the Tower of Babel. Today, man is overcoming the language barrier and progressing toward what many world leaders espouse—a one-world government. Furthermore, man has the capacity to wipe himself off the earth by nuclear weaponry or by germ warfare. The influence of mass media with all its wonders now enables practically anyone to access or be influenced by every form of sinfulness that has existed until recently in the back alleys and the brothels of the underworld.

The challenge to resist the downward pulls and to endure to the end for those God chooses to call out has never been greater and more deceptive. In the next chapter Paul writes about the perilous times of the end in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 and his description definitely fits this world, especially the Western world.

We now must be ever vigilant and constantly in tune and in touch with the high standards of God and Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit in us. Our focus and actions must be based on God’s Word. We must be yielded to God’s power and authority in our lives through daily heartfelt prayer, Bible study, meditation and occasional fasting.

Is the crown of righteousness that is laid up for God’s people paramount in our minds? We have been called to overcome and endure the downward pulls that exist so God can give us a crown and the servant rulership that goes along with this crown!

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!