Let's Persevere Until the End!

[Psalm 119:105-112]

This morning, during the early prayer meeting, I meditated on Ecclesiastes 7:8: "The end of a matter is better than its beginning…". The beginning of a task is important, but what matters more is how it ends. The reason for this is that no matter how grand or beautiful the start may be, if we do not bring it to completion, it is all in vain. We must become people who see things through to the end. If we only make a grand start but fail to finish, that beginning is meaningless.

In today's Bible passage, Psalm 119:112, the psalmist says: "I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes always, to the very end." With this verse in mind, under the title "Let’s Persevere Until the End!", I would like to reflect on five key aspects of how we can keep the Lord's commandments to the end, while receiving the grace that God gives.

First, to keep the Lord’s commandments to the end, we must swear to keep them.

Look at Psalm 119:106: "I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments." Of course, we must not make vows carelessly before God. However, when it comes to keeping the Lord's commandments, we must make a firm commitment. The reason for this is that the Lord’s words are the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Another reason is that God’s word is like a lamp and a guide in this dark world (Psalm 119:105).

Second, to keep the Lord’s commandments to the end, we must hold on to God’s word and pray.

Look at Psalm 119:107: "I am severely afflicted; O Lord, revive me according to Your word." When did the psalmist pray to God? He prayed when his affliction was great. What does it mean that his suffering was great? Look at the first part of Psalm 119:110: "The wicked have laid a snare for me..." The psalmist was being persecuted by the wicked. Therefore, he was constantly in danger of his life (v.109). In the midst of this danger, the psalmist prayed to God: "Revive me according to Your word" (v.107). He prayed for God to deliver him from his suffering, according to his faith. In the midst of that, the psalmist prayed: "Receive, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your judgments" (v.108). Even in his suffering, because the psalmist kept the Lord’s commandments, his heart was filled with joy, and he praised God.

Third, to keep the Lord’s commandments to the end, we must not forget His law.

Look at Psalm 119:109 in the Bible: "My life is always in danger, but I do not forget Your law." The psalmist decided not to forget the Lord's word, even when his life was in danger. In times of life and death, we often forget God's word. In crisis situations, we don't always hold onto God's word. We often stray from His laws. However, this is an action that lets our faith be controlled by our circumstances. We should never abandon our light while walking through the dark paths.

Fourth, to keep the Lord’s commandments to the end, we must make God’s word our inheritance.

Look at Psalm 119:111: "Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart." Since God's word is our joy, we must make it our eternal inheritance. However, if we do not experience this joy, we cannot make God’s word our inheritance. The joy of our heart can only be found in the word of the Lord. When we live according to that word, we will experience divine joy in our hearts. We must fully enjoy this joy.

Finally, fifth, to keep the Lord’s commandments to the end, we must incline our hearts to God’s word.

Look at Psalm 119:112: "I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end." In order to keep God's commandments to the end, we must incline our hearts to His word. Even in times of great suffering, we must pay more attention to the word of God. We must hold fast to that word. Therefore, we should be governed and led by it.

We must keep God’s word to the end. We must swear to keep it. And we must hold on to it and pray. We must not forget the Lord’s word. We must make it our inheritance and incline our hearts to it. Therefore, I pray that you and I will be those who keep God’s word to the end.

Wishing to walk the path of the Lord’s commandments to the end,

Pastor James Kim
(Praying that we are governed and led by the word of God)