pre·serve verb
verb (used with object)
1. to keep alive or in existence
2. to keep safe
from harm or injury; protect or spare
3. to keep up;
maintain
4. to keep
possession of; retain
www.dictionary.com
I
was listening to a certain Christian radio morning show not long ago and I
tuned in just in time to hear one of the co-hosts describing a difficult
relationship with a coworker. He went on and on about how unhealthy it was—how
even the most routine interactions caused him to respond to this individual
with raw contempt. His rambling finally ceased with the conclusion: ‘I prayed
about it and had to discontinue the relationship altogether for the sake of self-preservation.’
Self-preservation.
The
concept lingered. How much of life is characterized by a striving for preservation,
by a robust desire to retain and maintain? Think about it. We try to preserve
youth, health, wealth, prosperity, comfort, safety, even sanity. In many ways,
self-preservation is the overarching credo we ascribe to on a daily basis.
We’re more than willing to do the uncomfortable to stay comfortable; we’re
willing to sacrifice and save to maintain wealth; we’re even willing to endure
pain to retain a prosperous life. And sometimes we do this under the guise of
faith, or Christianity.
Notice
how all four of the above definitions begin. ‘To keep…’
The
nature of keeping—it’s done with motivation and intention. It brings certainty,
perhaps security. It promotes stagnation. And it’s something that can be
adored, even worshiped.
What
does Jesus say about keeping (saving)?
35 For whoever
would save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain
the whole world and forfeit his soul?
—Mark 8:35-36
He doesn’t seem to want us to preserve…or keep…or
save this life. In fact, He calls us to do just the opposite.
But
most often, when we meet trials of many kinds, as the Apostle James correctly
predicted we would, our natural inclination is to ‘fight or flight’—to do anything
we can to evade suffering and maintain (preserve) comfort, certainty, security.
Why? Because they are most desirable. And we store them up as treasures.
James,
however, encourages an entirely alternative approach. Take heed to his exhortation:
2 Count it all
joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your
faith produces steadfastness.
—James 1:2-3
We
fight. Or we take flight when there appears trouble. There’s another option: delight. We can embrace the suffering
we’ll inevitably encounter, counting it joy. Not because we’re to be
masochists—that would fly in the face of our holy God. No, because we can trust
the sovereign purpose of our Father to refine our fledgling faith through it
all.
God,
who began a good work in each of His children, will carry it on to completion
at the day of Jesus Christ. The work (sanctification) is, indeed, good—just far
from easy. And this shouldn’t catch us as a surprise. Jesus himself said, ‘If
anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me.’ (Mark 8:34) What about a trip down the Calvary road suggests
comfort, safety and security? What here suggests simply preserving what we’ve
got?
There’s
another word that looks remarkably similar to the word ‘preserve.’
Persevere.
Grace
to you, to lose your life, to embrace the refinement of faith through trials…and preserve your salvation.
Voice of
another
