“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
When teaching, the importance and value of example is hard to overstate. “What does that look like?” is a vital question. Regardless of whether you are learning to read and write the alphabet in kindergarten or are writing a dissertation according to the format specified by your college professor, seeing an acceptable exemplar is invaluable.
So, what does tenacious, enduring faith look like?
JESUS.
He wrote the book on it. He stands at the front of the line of faith’s “cloud of witnesses”. Because of His faith and its tenacity, He endured the vicious death called crucifixion. He cared not one whit about what others thought of Him nor about the scorn and shame they abusively pelted Him with. His focus was on obeying His Father. From beginning to end, the biography of Jesus is about tenacious, enduring faith.
Jesus also is the finisher, or vindicator, of faith. He is God’s final answer to the question of “Why should I live my life by tenacious, enduring faith?” Though He died ignominiously–with spit on His face and ridicule echoing in His ears–God vindicated Him and His faithful obedience. He was raised from the dead three days later and sat down at the right hand of God’s throne forty days after His brutal death.
No human court can overthrow or vacate God’s final verdict of vindication. He has been seated at God’ right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1:20-21).
Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4), and Jesus is the author and finisher of victorious faith.
