Humanly speaking, Christianity is an impossibility. For example, it takes a miracle to save a soul. It takes the power of God to keep those whom He saves. Thus, we can see that when we look at Christianity from our human perspective, everything begins to pile in on us and it seems so impossible.
We need to remember that our Christianity will be measured, not according to the self-satisfaction that it brought to us, but from how we earnestly contended for the faith. God rewards us for our faithfulness to Him, not our circumstantial success.
Christianity operates in reverse order. The last shall be first with God. Those who are abased shall be exalted. We fail to see the glory of this process, due to the personal mortification involved. But rest assured, we are always indebted to our Lord.
Christian legacy does not originate from those who are the esteemed of men. The example the Bible gives of one who left his mark for Christianity, was one who knew not any favorable response from men. Abel’s legacy still stands as a testimony to mankind – Hebrews 11:4. All Abel saw for his efforts of being faithful and true was the hatred that slew him. But for almost 6000 years now, the legacy of his faith has continued to make him one of God’s jewels for which he will be richly rewarded.
The kingdom of Christianity is not of this world. Therefore, Christianity is not measured by our accomplishments down here. Rather, God directs us to the reality of doing all we can to “endure” while in our pilgrimage of life down here.
Christianity results in the scourging of, rather than the crowning of, our earthly person. Not that it is bad for man, but that because of blindness, men are bad towards Christians. This, too, shall greatly enrich us in the kingdom we will inherit with Christ – Matthew 5:10-12.
As Peter surrendered to Christ’s call to the worthy and noble vocation of feeding Christ’s sheep, he was shown that in his latter day, others would “carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he (Christ) signifying by what death he (Peter) should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” – John 21:18f-19.
Paul’s Christian ministry cost him his freedom and eventually his life. But in assessing his life in full view of this, he told the elders of Ephesus, at his meeting with them at Miletus (Acts 20): (1) That he was pure from the blood of all men, having not shunned to declare all the counsel of God, (2) He knew he was not to continue, so he poured out of himself to them, that they might perpetuate the gospel to others.
Our tour of duty is but for a season. As we sense the greatness of our troubles, may it help us to realize the magnitude of the glory that awaits us after the battle is over.
Yes, “heaven will surely be worth it all.”
SHARING
