Persevere

Persevere

Strike a rock ten times, and it seems to be just as whole. However, with the eleventh blow it cracks. Which blow was it that cracked the rock? If the man had stopped with the tenth blow, he would not have cracked the rock. He would have been on the borderline of his goal, but he failed to persevere; therefore he did not reach his goal. Did the man know that the rock would crack with the eleventh blow? No! He struck the rock, believing that it would crack, if only he persevered in faith.

Persevere in faith until you reach the goal and are victorious.

If there are difficulties in your way, then hit these large rocks in faith until they crack, and you will go through them victorious.

When you pray, pray through until you gain the victory. Do not give up after the first blow, and do not believe that you are faced with the impossible. All things are possible to him who believes. You do not know how close to the goal you are. Perhaps it will take only one more blow, and you will have overcome. “Continue earnestly in prayer.” Col. 4:2.

When you preach the gospel to souls, continue until you see a crack in the assembly. The crack is the beginning of their acknowledgment of sin and self. Then you have gained access, and there is hope. Use more blows until the entire rock is cracked; continue until the hearts of the entire assembly are broken and crushed under the hammer blows of the Word. God does not despise such hearts. Isa. 57:15. When you begin, you may be inclined to think that the assembly is as hard as a rock. You speak ten times and have possibly exhorted them with tears. Then your perseverance fails, and you give up. But perhaps the very next blow—the eleventh—would have cracked the rock. Therefore persevere in believing.

Eternal life will be rendered to the one who by patient continuance in doing good seeks for glory, honor, and immortality. Rom. 2:7.