Recall your Deliverance, Persevere to Eternity

Hebrews 10:32-39 

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Those of us who have been reborn understand how life was immediately afterwards; we struggled, sometimes with suffering of varying kinds and severity, scorned and ridiculed for identifying with Christ by friends and family.  There were even times we identified with other believers and were treated badly for standing up for them or just agreeing with their testimony of the gospel.  The author here recalls the readers helping him with compassion and support, and he was encouraging them to continue no matter the hardships for Christ’s sake, focusing on the gospel mission at hand and eternity’s riches to follow.  We all need to endure to do what we are called out to do, not running away as those who spring up quickly and fall away in the heat of the day.  No, we have taken the word to heart, God having planted it deep in a changed heart, and follow toward the certain promise of eternal life.  We are not those who hear and are unregenerate, drawing back to the everlasting destruction of agonizing torment; no, we have taken hold after our hearts and minds were opened, believing to the deliverance of our souls from certain wrath and eternal suffering with fire.  We recall how we were delivered, what we then suffer, and the glory of eternal promises because of Christ’s justifying righteousness keeping us through judgment into His grace and mercy.