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Douglas A. Foster wrote a critical biography of Alexander Campbell titled A Life Of Alexander Campbell.  A review of this book is posted on this blog under the page Book Reviews.  The review is fourteen and one-half pages which is longer than normal, but it gives a thorough review of the book.  Foster attempts to give the good and bad aspects of Campbell’s character and life.   The book shows the complexities of Campbell’s life, his indefatigable efforts in advancing his ideas and biblical principles, his weaknesses as a man, his multitudinous controversies, and his intellectual strengths.  Foster points out that Campbell is the almost forgotten man in respect to the development of religious life in America.  Forgotten even among the heirs of his own efforts at the restoration of New Testament Christianity.  Campbell does leave a legacy that needs to be explored in respect to the principles that are Scriptural and applicable to our own day.  Hopefully, you will read the review and then, begin a more zealous pursuit of the principles that guided Alexander Campbell to carefully study God’s Word and follow it wherever it led him.  His efforts led to the most significant indigenous religious movement in American history.  That effort is worthy of serious study and reflection.

Some giants are hidden in plain view.  There is a giant Burr Oak tree that stands near the Walnut Woods Metro Park along Lithopolis Rd., near Groveport, Ohio.  The tree stands in plain sight near the road and is easily seen from the road.  However, it was just recently (May, 2018) recognized as a co-champion Burr Oak in the state of Ohio.  The tree is estimated to be between 150 and 200 years old.  It is 105 feet tall and its trunk is 18 feet in circumference.  It was discovered by Marc DeWerth of the Big Trees of Ohio organization and certified by Alistar Reynolds, the Ohio Champion Tree coordinator for the Ohio Division of Forestry. Its co-champion tree is located in Pickaway County on the south bank of Giffery Run.  The tree near the park has been struck by lightning and it lost a large branch just this year, but it is still standing.  Wounded, yet standing, it towers above every tree nearby.  The Bible uses a tree to illustrate the strength and prosperity of the righteous who follow God’s Word.  In Psa. 1:1-6, a tree standing by the water is prosperous and fruitful.  Speaking of the righteous, the Psalmist states, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”  The righteous are contrasted to the ungodly.  The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment.  The righteous are like a tree planted by the waters that cannot be moved.  The apostle Paul indicates that one of the characteristics of the righteous is that they are steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).  Through word association, let’s explore what it means to be steadfast.
Steadfastness:  Its Meaning and Uses
There are three adjectives and two nouns that indicate steadfast/steadfastness.  The adjectives are: bebaios meaning: firm, secure; hedraios, meaning: seated, steadfast or metaphorically, fixity.  It is used of moral fixity in I Cor. 7:37 (steadfast in his heart); and stereos, meaning:  firm, resistance (I Pet. 5:9).  The nouns are: stereōma, meaning: a support, foundation, denoting strength (Col. 2:5); and stērigmos, meaning: a setting firmly, supporting, fixedness (II Pet. 3:17).  (see W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, IV, 73).
The Main Concepts Involved in Steadfastness
Steadfastness involves resistance to change when that change would take us away from Christ or place us in opposition to Christ.  I Peter 5:9 directs us to resist (stereos) the devil.  We must resist satan, when he tempts us to forsake Christ or place us in opposition to Christ.  We must resist any person when that person attempts to move us away from Christ or place us in opposition to Christ.  Steadfastness is not merely a passive trait. Inward strength helps us resist evil just like a tree which has the strength of life in it can withstand the winds and storms that rage against it.  A Christian must be strong and resist anything that would separate him/her from Christ.
Steadfastness involves being unmovable from our spiritual oneness with Christ.  In I Cor. 15:58 (hedraios), Paul marries steadfastness with being unmovable.  The idea is that of being in a fixed position.  Jesus indicates this very thought in John 15:1-10, where He instructs His disciples to “abide in me.”  Our spiritual life and vitality come from Jesus Christ. He is the vine and we are the branches.  As a result of being in Christ and abiding in Christ we are: purified, productive, will not be purged (cast out and burned); have our prayers answered, and remain in partnership with the Lord through love and obedience to His Word.
Steadfastness involves fixedness.  A permanent spiritual position that results in moral purity.  In Col. 1:23, Paul describes one who is grounded, settled and cannot be moved away from the faith which is in Christ Jesus.  Hedraios is used metaphorically of moral fixity (I Cor. 7:37).  To be steadfast in one’s heart means that we remain true to ourselves and the Lord Jesus Christ with regard to His teachings.  This is an inner spiritual strength and toughness in keeping our hearts pure.
Steadfastness involves being anchored.   Hope is an anchor to the soul (Heb. 6:19-bebaios). An anchor is another metaphor.  A ship requires an anchor in order to remain in one position or a fixed position while the winds and waves attempt to move the ship in various directions.  Faith and hope are two necessary aspects of steadfastness.  Faith is the foundation of hope.  If we do not have faith in God and His Word, we do not possess hope.  If we have faith (Heb. 11:6), then, we have hope.  Hope secures the soul in the midst of the storms of life.  Hope is confident expectation of good things to come.  No matter what the circumstances of life may be, when we have a foundation of faith in God, we have optimism that it will be well with our soul.
Steadfastness involves being grounded and settled.  Our lives as Christians are firmly placed upon a sure foundation.  “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 3:11).  Jesus describes the wise man as the person who hears His sayings and doeth them (Matt. 7:24-25).  He builds his life upon the rock.  Sterēoma is used in Col. 2:5, “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”  We are the temple of God “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).  Consequently, we are not toss to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14).
Steadfastness involves firmness.  The word of God cannot be broken (John 10:35).  The word of angels was stedfast and the word of Jesus Christ is even more so (Heb. 2:2-bebaios). God’s word stands like the rock of Gibraltar.  It is impregnable.  Thus, it provides security for the soul.  God’s word keeps us from being led astray by the error of the wicked whereby we would fall from our own steadfastness (II Pet. 3:17-stērigmos).
The truly wise among us will enter into God’s grace, love and mercy and stay there!  Do not be moved away from the faith that is in Christ Jesus.  Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord!  Perhaps you can be a spiritual giant hidden in plain view.

Thomas Zurbuchen selected the name Perseverance for the space rover sent to Mars following a nationwide K-12 student “name the rover” contest.  The contest attracted over 28,000 proposals.  A seventh grade student from Virginia, Alexander Mather from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA, submitted the winning entry at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.  He and his family were invited to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in FL to watch the launch of the rover.  Mather wrote in his winning essay, “Curiosity, Insight, Spirit, Opportunity.  If you think about it, all of these names of past Mars rovers are qualities we possess as humans.  We are always curious, and seek opportunity.  We have the spirit and insight to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond.  But, if rovers are to be the qualities of us as a race, we missed the most important thing.  Perseverance.”
It Takes Perseverance to Go to Mars
How far is it to Mars?  The average distance to Mars is 140 million miles.  How long would it take to get there?  If you were walking (about 4 mph) it would take 4,000 years!  By car at 70 mph it would take 228 years. By jet plane, it would take 32 years.  By space ship (the Apollo Ten space craft flew 39,896 km/h) it would take 8.4 months.  By space craft now at 58,599 mph…about 6 months, 18 days).  (distances provided by distancescalculator.com). If you want to track the rover, go to: eyes.nasa.gov and you can track the location in real time.  Wednesday, December 2, the rover had traveled 196,353,000 miles at 55,677 mph, with 96,172,000 miles to go.  67% of the trip has been completed (the trip is nearly 300 million miles).  Perseverance launched July 30, 2020 and will land on Mars Feb. 18, 2021. It takes perseverance to go to Mars.
The Definition of Perseverance
The apostle Paul in Eph. 6:18, states, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”  The Greek word translated by the English word perseverance means, “strong towards.”  It is an intensive form.  Thus, the word means, “unremitting, steadfast.” The Oxford English Dictionary gives the following definition to perseverance: “persistence in doing something despite opposition, difficulty, or delay in achieving success.”  The opposition can take many forms: enemies oppose, difficulties arise, and delays hinder.  Some quotes capture the essence of this word: “too determined to be defeated” and “Perserverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did” (Newt Gingrich).  Perseverance is a character trait.  Some synonyms are: endurance, patience, steadfastness, unremitting, unrelenting, persistent and determined.
The Context of the Struggle
In Eph. 6:10-18, Paul establishes the need for perseverance in the context of the spiritual struggle that characterizes the Christian warfare.  The Christian life can be viewed as having:  a beginning, i.e. conversion; a goal, heaven; a journey, day to day living; opposition and obstacles, i.e. enemies; support and help, God, the armor of God, godly character, prayer, fellow Christians; and an end, i.e. victory.  We live our lives as Christians in the context of spiritual struggle.  When we become a New Testament Christian and are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) we depart from iniquity.  We take a stand against evil and for righteousness.  Consequently, all evil forces will oppose us.   We must keep our eyes on the goal–heaven.  Like Paul, we must stay focused on the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14).  Opposition will come from many sources.  In Eph. 6:12, Paul mentions the spiritual principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this world.  Satan and his allies will assail each Christian.  In Christ, we must face our enemies with courage and perseverance.  Satan opposes everything that is true, good and right.  He uses deception skillfully to ensnare the minds and hearts of people.  Christians are not defenseless.  We can and must equip ourselves with the whole armor of God.  This involves: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Eph. 6:14-17).  With these spiritual instruments, we can fight and win decisively.  “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:4-5).  If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).  Christians have the power of prayer.  Christians have godly character and stay attentive to the circumstances that they find themselves confronting.  They watch with all perseverance.  Dear Christian, never let down your guard.  Always be prepared to advance the faith and defend the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).  We are assured the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.  “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Cor. 15:57).  “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). “Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on eternal life” (I Tim. 6:12).