When I think of the word “endure,” I think back to the day my colleagues convinced me to join them in a 5k run through Central Park in New York City. Till this day, I have not forgiven my friends. On what I thought was the last day of my life, I huffed, and I puffed. I almost died. I made sure everyone in the world knew how unhappy I was. After a struggle I never will forget, I finished. It wasn’t pretty, but I made it to the goal. Oh, it didn’t matter very much how I finished, as long as I finished. I endured.
There are actually a total of six words in Koine Greek that are translated “endure” in our English Bibles. All six words share a common meaning “to bear,” “to hold out,” “to finish a suffering,” you get the idea. And yet each carries a shade in meaning slightly different from another. Of the six words, one caught my eye. The English transliteration is hupomeno. How is hupomeno different from the others, you ask? According to the Greek lexicon, it certainly means to endure, but “bravely and calmly.” In another place, it says, “to endure, not with resigned acquiescence, instead with positive fortitude.” That sure doesn’t sound like letting the world know how unhappy we are, does it?
You and I are to endure. But we must do more than just make it to the finish line. We must endure well. It does matter how we endure. The Apostle Paul was hungry, cold, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and thrown into prison, but never once did he let the world know how unhappy he was. Rather, he considered it a privilege to share in the sufferings of Christ. He identified with Christ. No one would say Paul endured if he had refused to go through the suffering God had prepared for him. But would we say he endured if he went through the suffering, but did it with an attitude of bitterness, anger, even retaliation?
There is one more thing I like to share with you. Earlier, I said hupomeno was unique among the six words in Koine Greek that are translated, “endure.” According to my personal study, it appears hupomeno is unique again in another way. It is the only “endure” or “endurance” word used in the context of eternity. Check this out.
Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
MATTHEW 10:21
The saying is trustworthy, for if we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him…
2 Timothy 2:11
Blessed is the man who remains (endures) under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
In life, we face 5ks after 5ks—relationships at risk, relationships lost, disruptions to our smooth lives of every kind, and persecution. It wasn’t pretty while we were in the middle of it. Then one day, it left us. We endured. Life is good again.
Endurance is not endurance. Merely lasting through hardship, as long as we lasted through hardship, is not endurance. With what kind of attitude we carry as we go through hardship decides whether or not we have endured. Anyone can go through hardship with grumbling. Going through hardship with joy and thanksgiving says that we have finally identified ourselves with Christ.
Every Christ follower must hupomeno. Hupomeno is critically related to our eternity. When we have truly endured, we will also reign with Christ. When we have truly endured, we will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Let’s learn together, you and me, how to hupomeno.