Endure The Cross, Disregard Its Shame, Joy Is Ahead

Those who run a race always have one thing in mind and that is to get to the finishing line in order to lay hold of the prize. Training their body to be active and fit for their race is not so easy, they must pay a great price.

Some of the price athletes pay is ensuring a total abstinence from alcohol, sex and other things that give pleasure. They avoid these pleasurable activitties just to stay fit for their race.

A Christian journey to heaven is similar to that of an athlete who wants to win a race at all cost. So many sacrifices have to be made before reaching the finishing line. Salvation is free but working out ones salvation to heaven comes with a price.

Jesus couldn't have sat at the right hand side of God if he if he was reluctant to take up the Cross and go through shame. We can't make it to heaven if we avoid the cross of suffering and shame.

We can't claim only the joyous part of following Christ and refused the pain that comes with carrying the Cross. We can't be joint-heirs with Christ if we can't share in his suffering.

A slave is no greater than the master and there is no way we can also escape the suffering and pain that comes with being slaves for Christ sake.

Many preachers preach a half-truth message to new converts by highlighting only the glorious moments they would experience as they follow Christ and overlook the pain that one experiences for following Christ.

If the world insulted Christ so shall we also be insulted, if they falsely accused him and said all kinds of evil against him we will no way escape that.
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We will be hated by the world and shall be put to death for Christ sake but we have been admonished to look ahead for the joy that is set ahead for us.

We can only do so by letting Christ be our example and keeping our focus on him as the scripture says:

keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. Hebrews 122-3