DAD'S RAMBLINGS – POSSESS YOUR SOULS
"By your patience, possess your souls." (Luke 21:19)
The context of this statement by Jesus signs was in the context of the signs of the end of the age, when followers of Jesus would be persecuted, put in jail for their testimony, betrayed by close relatives, and martyred. Then He said, "By your patience, possess your souls."
It is helpful to get the perspective from other translations. The New Living Translation says, "By standing firm, you will win your souls." The NIV says: "Stand firm, and you will win life." The ESV says, "By your endurance you will gain your lives." The essence is that we will gain eternal life by our endurance.
The Greek word translated patience means steadfastness, not being swayed from faith and piety, perseverance, patiently waiting. In another place, Jesus said, "He that endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13). We might say, "Hang in there when the going gets difficult. Don't be swayed from your faith in Christ when things don't go like you think they should."
The word, "possess," is defined by Strong's Concordance as "to get; to acquire by any means." Whatever it takes to get eternal life, do it. The Gospel is clear that Jesus paid the full price for our eternal salvation. But that does not mean that there might not be a price that we must pay to stand firm in our faith and not be swayed from the Gospel. It may be just rejection by unbelievers, but it may also demand more than that of us – even perhaps our lives.
We are called to patiently wait for Jesus' return. I remember my impatience as I waited for the arrival of our first child. We tried to hurry the process along by walking, walking, walking. It seemed that that baby would never come. But all of our impatience did not hurry the process. Cheryl was going to come when she was good and ready. Even so, Jesus will come at God's appointed time.
As we patiently wait for the promised return of our Lord Jesus, let us be firm in our convictions and faith in the Gospel of Christ. Hebrews 4:14 says, "Let us hold fast our confession." Hebrews 10:35 says, "Do not cast away your confidence." Let us possess our souls whatever it takes.
Love, Dad
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