Running a race can be hard work—especially when there's no finish line in sight. At the end of the 1st century, that's kind of what being a Christian was like. The rest of the world wasn't down with Jesus, so it would have been easy for the early Christians to drop out of the race, too. But our author tells them that they have to keep trusting in God and persevere. It's kind of like Dory says: "Just keep swimming!"
Questions About Perseverance
- Why was preserving for Jesus so important? What would happen to anyone who didn't keep the faith?
- The early Christians thought the end of the world was very close to happening. Do you think people were discouraged when Jesus didn't come back?
- Is hard work a good thing? Do people appreciate things more when it's tougher to get them?