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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).

Matthew records Jesus’ conversation with a woman of Canaan (Matt. 15:21-28).  Jesus enters the coasts of Tyre and Sidon and is met by a woman with a special request.  The woman is a Gentile.  This is the first time that Matthew reports a woman as addressing Jesus.  The woman’s daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.  She comes to Jesus because she knows and believes that He can heal her daughter.
Faith’s Request
She says, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.”  She knows who Jesus is.  She addresses Him as Lord and as the Son of David (a reference that indicates knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah).  Faith is based upon knowledge.  Knowledge of the truth is a solid foundation for faith.  The request is not for herself, but in behalf of her daughter who is suffering and whom she loves.  Faith in the Lord and love for her daughter motivate her to make this plea for help.
Jesus’ First Response
Jesus answers her not a word.  Jesus’ silence tests the strength of her faith.  Jesus is not indifferent to her request.  Will she persist?  Delay tests the authenticity of her faith in Jesus and the love she has for her daughter.
Faith Rebuffed
Jesus’ disciples desire to have her dismissed.  They tell Jesus to “send her away.”  The disciples seem somewhat annoyed by her constant crying out after Jesus.  She was persistent and undaunted by the move to dismiss her request.  Her faith was resilient.
Jesus’ Second Response
Jesus states His mission:  “I am sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  The focus of Jesus’ ministry was among the Jews at this time.  The gospel went to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.  However, there are times in Jesus’ public ministry where He opened the door of His mercy to the Gentiles indicating that God’s grace is available to all people.
Faith’s Resurgence
The woman worshipped Jesus and said, “Lord, help me.”  This is the second time she addresses Jesus as Lord.  Her faith is fixed on His position and power.  She manifests great pathos.  Her emotions support her faith.
Jesus’ Third Response
Jesus said to her, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.”  The response of Jesus points out the priority of His mission.  Children are superior to dogs.  The use of the term dogs is not meant to offend her, but to establish the distinction between God’s chosen people and the other nations under the Old Testament.  However, this distinction is about to change under a new dispensation of the gospel of Jesus Christ (the New Testament).
Faith Unrelenting
The woman replies to Jesus, “Truth Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fell from their master’s table.”  For the third time she refers to Him as Lord.  Her request comes from an acknowledged position of humility.  She does not possess the rights of the children.  She knows she deserves nothing, but still, she comes seeking a special blessing, indeed, a miracle.
Faith Rewarded
Jesus says to her, “O woman, great is thy faith…”  She knows who Jesus is and that He has the power to help her.  Her knowledge is the basis of her faith.  Her faith underlies her plea.  Her plea is relentless because her faith is great.  Her plea is answered/rewarded by mercy–the very mercy she came seeking.  Jesus said, “Be it unto thee even as thou wilt” (Matt. 15:28).  “And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”  Mercy was obtained and God’s heart was revealed.  Great faith can be found in unexpected hearts!

Temperance and patience form an important team of virtues.  In II Peter 1:5-8, Peter instructs us to add patience to temperance.  Without temperance, we could not be patient.  The word “add” indicates that we must grow spiritually in the development of godly character.  The pursuit of godly character is one aspect of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Patience–Passive Sense.
The word patience literally involves “an abiding under.” (Vine, III, pp. 167-168).  In the passive sense, patience is endurance.  In the face of hatred, Christians must endure.  Luke 21:19, “In your patience possess ye your souls.”  Jesus warned that His disciples would be hated of all men for His name’s sake.  Some trials are incident to service to Jesus Christ or the Gospel.  II Cor. 6:4-5, “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings… (See also, II Cor. 12:12; II Tim. 3:10).  We must be patient when under chastisement (Heb. 12:7).  And, we must be patient in the face of undeserved affliction (I Peter 2:20).
Patience-Active Sense
Patience, in the active sense, means perseverance or persistence. Paul teaches us to continue in well-doing.  Rom. 2:7, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.”  It takes patience to bear fruit.  Luke 8:15, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”  Patience is also needed to run the Christian race.  Heb. 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Patience–Some Opposites
Consider this list of opposites to patience:  idleness, contrariness, inattention, defiance, neglect, irritation, exasperation, rage, fretfulness, fickleness, ire, temper, petulance, displeasure, negligence, disobedience, resistance, wrath, remissness, indignation, indolence, recalcitrance, fury, pettishness, offense, sloth, insubordination, peevishness, impatience, willfulness, inconstancy, resentment, intractability, vexation, animosity, changeableness, and passion.  A lack of patience produces a whole host of undesirable attitudes and behaviors.
Patience and Temperance
Temperance is self-control or will-power exercised to restrain the passions and develop the spiritual habits of mind and heart that will keep us from sin and promote righteousness.  Patience is the use of will-power to either endure hardships and trials or persevere in well-doing (righteousness).  Temperance and patience are a team that work together to help us live a life that is pleasing to God.  They are intricately involved in the mastery of self.  These may be two virtues that are lacking the most in the character of God’s people.

Perseverance is a part of the Christian character that helps secure the victory over Satan.  After giving the specific elements of the Christian armor, Paul writes, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18).  Paul adds prayer and perseverance to the list of elements that must equip the Christian soldier in the fight against sin.
What is Perseverance?  Perseverance denotes, “to continue steadfastly in a thing and give unremitting care to it.”  The word literally means, “be strong towards.” It is intensive in form.  The word assumes that a trial or challenge is in view.  The challenge is formidable and demanding.  To persevere is to stand steadfastly in the face of the challenge, no matter what it is or how intense it might be.
Sources of Strength.
You cannot win over Satan using merely your own strength, but you must bring something to the fight.  Jesus Christ secures the victory for us, but we must believe and obey Him.  We must be in Christ and He must be in us.  If we fail to be one with Christ or if we abandon our position in Christ we will fail.  Spiritual union with Christ is indispensable to personal victory over sin and Satan.  Paul also adds something else:  the prayers of the saints.  Three sources of strength emerge:  (1) our own grit; (2) the Lord Jesus Christ; and (3) fellow Christians.
Aspects of Perseverance.
Consider the following aspects of perseverance:
1.  Endurance over Time (Keep Going!).  Consider the example of  Moses during the Wilderness Wanderings (40 years).  Moses dealt with all sorts of hardships:  the sin of the people at Sinai, the murmuring of God’s people for food and water, challenges to his leadership from Aaron and Miriam (within his own family) and from Korah, Dathan and Abiram (from without his own family), enemies from outside of Israel threatened, and nations such as Edom would not cooperate or help when needed.  Through it all, Moses kept going!  He persevered.
2.  A strong and positive will (keep positive).  A perfect example of the spirit needed is given by the apostle Paul.  Paul never complained even thought he faced many trials (II Cor. 11:21-28).  Paul kept a positive attitude in the face of many challenges.  He stated, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).
3.  Focus on the mission (keep focused).  Even though the apostle Paul encountered many difficult situations, he never quit.  He states, “Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto these things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).
4.  Never journey alone (keep God close).  David is a good example of this trait.  David believed that the LORD was his shepherd and would lead him in the paths of righteousness.  When you walk with God, you never walk alone!
5.  Stay committed (keep faith).  Jesus is our perfect example for this trait.  When Jesus faced the trial of the cross, he “committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (I Pet. 2:23).  Jesus faced death with unwavering faith in God.  That’s perseverance.
6.  Don’t lose your passion (keep loving).  While Jesus’ own disciples forsook Him, His love for them would not permit Him to forsake them.  He loved them unto the end (John 13:1).  Love endureth all things!  That’s perseverance.
Hardships are inevitable.  Perseverance will be needed to triumph over them.