We have the same spirit of faith as the Psalmist, who in the face of a life threatening situation said, “My faith overwhelms my fear and enables me to speak the truth.” And so again and again we look death and in the face and boldly speak the truth that has filled our hearts with the kind of faith that overcomes the world.
And if this ultimately costs us our lives we know that even then we will ultimately triumph through Christ. If someone lays our bodies in the grave those same bodies will be raised in resurrection splendor to join the transformed bodies of living believers who gather together with Christ in the ultimate triumph of His second coming.
God has so transformed us by the renewing of our minds that we no longer think of our lives or our deaths from a personal perspective. It’s not about whether we live or die; it’s about whether or not we are a blessing to others. We risk our lives daily so that people just like you can enter into an experience of God’s-passionate-love-giving-everything-God-can-possibly-give-to-undeserving-sinners. And as more and more people enter into this new life the result is an ever increasing chorus of thanksgiving that brings great glory to God.
This is why we refuse to be discouraged. Our bodies are aging and dying and battered by the incredible physical abuse we have been subjected to as we have suffered for the gospel – but while our bodies decay that that manifestation of God’s glory within us brings continuous renewal and fresh vitality to our inner man.
Most people would look at the way we have suffered and be appalled. They’d look at the scars on our bodies and all they would be able to think about is the high price we have paid; but that’s not the way we look at our lives!
If someone offered you a brand new fifty thousand dollar luxury car for fifty dollars, would you moan and whine about the great “sacrifice” you were called on to make in paying that fifty dollars? No! The price you would be paying would be insignificant compared to the value you would be receiving!
That is exactly our mindset when it comes to suffering! The Lord Himself told us to rejoice and be exceedingly glad when we are persecuted for the sake of righteousness because of the great reward awaiting us in the life to come, and He meant exactly what He said!
The key to victory is to keep your heart and mind on the spiritual and eternal as opposed to the physical and temporal. Everything that you can see and touch with your physical senses is passing away. But everything we do for Christ in this life is being recorded in heaven and will result in permanent, everlasting praise and recognition throughout all the endless ages to come. We can walk without stumbling as long as the eyes of our faith are able to see that which is invisible to our natural senses.
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