Through the wonders of modern technology, I spent parts of the past four days in Montreal, Quebec. No, I didn’t physically travel anywhere. But thanks to a live audiovisual feed via the Internet, I was able to be “present” at the various contest and performance sessions of the International Barbershop Convention, which happened to be in Montreal last week.

My chorus didn’t qualify for International this year — we competed in 2000 in Kansas City and in 2001 in Nashville — but I’ve met a few men in the top quartets. In fact, the quartets that finished second and third both performed in shows for which I was the master of ceremonies. I watched with anticipation as they pursued their dreams of International stardom. While I’m not in their league as a singer — as anyone here can attest — I can truthfully say I’ve shared the stage with some of the best!

The quartet that caught my attention was the one that captured the gold medal in a tight competition, earning the title of International Barbershop Quartet Champions. “Power Play” consists of four members of the same family — a father, two of his sons, and a nephew. Their contest-winning set Saturday evening contained two songs that spoke of the relationships they share: “When There’s Love at Home” and “The Best Times I Ever Had, I Had with My Dad.” In an age when families dissolve at the drop of a hat, it was gratifying to see these men celebrating the joy of fathers and sons, uncles and nephews and cousins, sharing a hobby together. It was clear from their camaraderie that the words they sang came from their hearts.

Power Play also stood out among the 43 quartets because of their “length of service” in International competition. They first competed at the top level in 1989 — it took them fourteen fruitless attempts before they finally won. In their second International, they lost to an exceptional foursome who had been performing together less than six months. Last year, they lost to four young men who were in junior high school when Power Play first competed. But they persevered — sustained by their familial bond — until at long last they seized the prize.

Would you keep after something if you’d chased it for that many years without success? If you applied for a job fourteen times, and been rejected every time, would you submit a fifteenth résumé? If you visited a store fourteen times and they were always out of the product you wanted, would you ever go back? And gentlemen — if you had asked your now-wife fourteen times to marry you, and each time she’d politely declined, would you be married to her today? For most of us, the answer to all these questions is “no.” But do we give up too easily?

Jesus told the church in first-century Laodicea, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). How long did He stand there? How many times did He knock? We don’t know, but we know that despite their lukewarm response (verse 16), the Lord hadn’t given up on those “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” Christians in Laodicea. Someday He would “vomit them out of His mouth,” but not yet. He still loved them, so He continued to rebuke and chasten them that they might repent (verse 19).

When I saw the four men of Power Play don their gold medals Saturday night, I was glad for their sake that they never quit on their dream. And when I next looked in the mirror and saw the redeemed sinner staring back at me, I was glad for my sake that my Lord never quit on me.

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11). I sure am grateful that He is. If we show Him our perseverance (Hebrews 10:36; 12:1) and we keep our eyes on the prize (Philippians 3:12-16), He, for His part, will never give up on us (Hebrews 13:5).