Hebrews 12:2-4 (NLT)
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
There’s a song by Christian recording artist Rita Springer called “Worth It All” that I believe perfectly encapsulates this scripture (look it up on YouTube if you want to hear it!):
I don't understand Your ways, oh but I will give You my song - Give You all of my praise
You hold on to all my pain and with it You are pulling me closer and pulling me into Your ways
Now around every corner and up every mountain, I'm not looking for crowns or the water from fountains
I'm desperately seeking, frantic believing that the sight of Your face is all that I need
I will say to You it's gonna be worth it - It's gonna be worth it - It's gonna be worth it all
This scripture tells us that “because of the joy awaiting him, [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame.”
We know that there is a cost in this life that comes with living for Jesus. There are temptations and trials that come our way. There are people who won’t accept us because of our beliefs. There are social consequences for standing up and living out your faith.
Beyond the normal “American Christian” consequences, there are those that live abroad that know even more so what living for Jesus costs. Here it may cost us an awkward glance or, at worst, a measure of social rejection but for some people, living for Christ is a life or death decision.
When we are faced with pain or rejection on this earth for choosing Jesus, we must remember “the joy awaiting us.”
If we are ever faced with having to choose between life on this earth or Jesus, we must remember “the joy awaiting us.”
We must keep our eyes on Jesus in this life and follow His example! We must keep an eternal perspective! Despite all of His suffering, Jesus is now “seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Keeping this joy and this glorious future in mind gave Jesus the drive that He needed to endure all the suffering that found Him on His way to Calvary and even worse, the sin that was cast upon Him as He hung on the cross. When he sat down next to His Father in Heaven, it was worth every second of the pain and rejection He felt on earth.
Paul tells us in Romans 8:18 that we have this same hope:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Through suffering in this life, we can find rest in our Savior. When friends and family turn their backs on us because of our faith, we can find perfect peace. If someone presses the barrel of a gun to our foreheads and tells us to make a choice between life and Jesus, we can smile and choose Christ because we know our Savior is in control of all things and being with Him for eternity makes anything that we’ll face on this earth worth it all.
It’s gonna be worth it…
