Matthew 10:22

DISCOURSE: 1344
ENDURING UNTO THE END

Matthew 10:22. He that endureth to the end shall be saved.

ONE cannot but admire the faithfulness of our blessed Lord, when calling his Disciples to follow him. It almost seems as if he intended rather to deter them from following him, since he forewarns them that such a step would inevitably bring upon them the heaviest trials from all around them. He goes so far as to tell them that they would be only “as sheep among wolves,” in danger every moment of being devoured by their enemies. And all the consolation he administers to them is taken from the hope of his presence here, and his glory hereafter. You will have to sustain all these things; “but he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved.” In these words we have,

I. A caution intimated—

It is evident that our Lord intended to tell them what they must expect to endure for his sake; and how much depended on their patient perseverance in well-doing.
They must experience great and heavy trials in their way to heaven—
[Much they would have to contend with from within—a carnal mind—a corrupt heart—a tempting world—a subtle adversary, whose devices are capable of beguiling the most wary soul: all these they would have, to obstruct their way to heaven; and all of them must be withstood, in order to a successful issue of their labours — — — Many trials, also, they would meet with from without, insomuch that “their own dearest friends would become their bitterest enemies.” No other thing that could be done by them would give such general and inveterate offence as their adherence to him. They might become infidel, or licentious, and even profligate, and excite only pity; whereas their attachment to him would provoke the most embittered hostility; and not from the immoral only, but the moral also: yea, on the whole, the self-righteous moralists would be the fiercer enemies of the two: nor would imprisonment and death be too heavy penalties for them to expect at the hands even of their own parents or children.]

On their enduring of these to the end, would their everlasting salvation depend—
[It would be to no purpose for them to run well for a season, if they should stop before they reached the goal. They might suffer much and long, and yet perish, if they had not fortitude to sustain the utmost extremity of pain that could be inflicted on them. “If they would save their life, they must lose it: and on no other condition could they hope to save it to life eternal.” To this effect the Church has been warned in all ages. Lot’s wife was made a sad example of the danger of looking back, after she had escaped from Sodom; as the whole Jewish nation had been, after their deliverance from the land of Egypt [Note: Jude, ver. 5.]. The Prophet Ezekiel, in particular, had warned the Jews, that a declension from the ways of godliness would infallibly involve them in ruin [Note: Ezekiel 18:24.]: and, in like manner, the Church in all ages is here warned by our Lord, that “then only will his followers be made partakers of his salvation, if they hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end [Note: Hebrews 3:14.].” “If any draw back, whatsoever be the occasion of that departure, it will be to inevitable and everlasting perdition [Note: Hebrews 10:38.].”]

But in my text there is, more directly and obviously,

II.

An encouragement expressed—

“Salvation” is here declared to be the certain recompence of our fidelity—
[But who shall tell us what salvation is, even “that salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory?” Who can form any just idea of it? Who can inform us what it is to behold the Saviour face to face; and to be seated with him on his throue; and to enjoy the most intimate communion with him to all eternity? Who shall describe the blessedness of heaven, and make us acquainted with the place, the company, the employment? Suffice it, however, to know, that the felicity of all the glorified saints shall be accorded to those who are conquerors in this glorious warfare [Note: Revelation 3:5; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 3:21.] — — —]

And will not that abundantly compensate for all that we can ever do or suffer for Christ?
[Our sufferings, be they ever so heavy, are, in fact, but short and light even in our present estimation, provided we are looking steadfastly to the “things which are invisible and eternal [Note: 2 Corinthians 4:17.].” How light, then, will they appear, when once we come into the possession of that glory! Truly, if now, in the midst of all our trials, we say, that “the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us [Note: Romans 8:18.];” much more shall we say so, when all our troubles shall have passed away, and all the fulness of heavenly blessing shall be poured into our souls — — —]

Application—
1.

Let those who are just entering on the Christian course “first sit down and count the cost”—

[You well know how a man beginning to build a house, and relinquishing the work for want of funds to complete it, exposes himself to shame and ridicule amongst men. And to what shame will you be exposed in the presence of God, if, after having begun to follow Christ, you turn back, for want of fortitude to bear the cross which you had taken up for his sake! You must expect tribulation for his sake: you must expect persecution even unto death: and you must be “willing not only to be bound, but also to die for his sake.” At the same time, you may expect grace sufficient for you in the time of trial. Only look to Him, and depend on him; and he will never leave you, nor forsake you; “nor shall any temptation come upon you without a supply of grace equal to your day, or a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it [Note: 1 Corinthians 10:13.].” This do then: put into one scale all that man can inflict on the body; and in the other, all that God can confer upon the soul, in time, to sustain you under your sufferings; and in eternity, to recompense you for them. This do, I say; and you need not fear but that, how numerous soever your enemies may be, you shall be “more than conquerors through Him who loved you.”]

2. Let all expect trials, “even to the end”—

[“Never are you to put off your armour,” till God gives you a discharge from this warfare. Satan, when repulsed in the wilderness, departed from our Lord “only for a season.” At the close of our Saviour’s life, that wicked adversary made his assaults more powerfully than ever. And so he may do with you. You may have a long intermission of trials, both within and without: but you never know what a single day may bring forth. Gird on, then, your armour daily, even the whole armour of God; and “war a good warfare” even to the end. When you first begin to follow Christ, you come to him as your only Saviour; and, professing to renounce every other ground of hope, you say, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.” You profess, also, to “live altogether by faith on him;” “receiving every thing out of his fulness,” precisely “as the branch from the vine.” This, then, is the course in which you are to continue. It is this which brings your trials upon you: it is because “you live godly in Christ Jesus, that you suffer persecution:” and by persevering in this path, you shall surely attain the promise in my text, “You shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.”]

3. Let all keep their eye fixed upon the heavenly prize—

[It was “to this that Moses looked, when he accounted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt [Note: Hebrews 11:26.].” And you, brethren, if you keep the felicity of heaven in view, will think little of the labour or the pains which you may endure in the acquisition of it. True, you must not look to it as what you are to earn by labour, or to merit by sufferings: you must look to it as the purchase of the Redeemer’s blood, and as the gift of his grace. But still it will be accorded to those only who seek it in God’s appointed way: and it is “through much tribulation only that you are to hope to attain it.” If this appear formidable to flesh and blood, open the sacred volume, and see how others before you have triumphed, and how glorious the recompence will be when once it is attained. Survey the meridian sun for a few moments, and all earthly glory will appear dark: and get Pisgah views of the heavenly glory, and all earthly trials, how dark soever they may appear to the natural man, will have a splendour round about them, not unlike to the fiery furnace which was to preserve and sanctify the Hebrew youths, or like the fiery chariot which was to transport Elijah to the realms of bliss. In the near views of heaven, you will welcome either sufferings or death; and, like the first martyr Stephen, you will bless the murderers who are transmitting you to the full enjoyment of it.]