When Jesus and His parents went up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, His parents left the city at the conclusion—but Jesus “lingered behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:43). On his second missionary journey Paul left Berea, but Silas and Timothy “remained there” (Acts 17:14). Both these phrases—“lingered behind” and “remained there”—are translations of the Greek word that is elsewhere translated “endure.” In other words, “endure” means “to remain fixed when others are leaving.” 

When Jesus taught about the troubling times that will come in the future, He said that the love of many will grow cold—their faith will fail, and they will fall away. But He said, “the one who endures”—the one who remains fixed in place when others are leaving the faith— “will be saved.” That’s what it means to endure—to remain in place, in the faith, in the face of persecution and tribulation. 

The time to be committed to enduring is before the trouble begins, whether now or in the future. Make firm today your commitment to endure to the end for the sake of Christ.

Endurance is the ability to stand up under adversity. 
Jerry Bridges