ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

2 Timothy 3:12 NIV

It seems as though I’ve been living in a parallel universe since last Friday.  As you may remember from my entry titled No Weapons Will Prosper, last Friday is when the enemy decided to turn up the heat because of what God is doing in my life.  It seemed like every since that day I’ve been dealing with unusual issues – everything from mild yet irritating mishaps to great physical pain.  Each day something of an offensive nature has befallen me, and at times, I had to ask God to help me stay focused on Him because I know the enemy was trying his best to tempt me to step outside of the will of God.  It’s his desire for me to allow things such as hurt, unforgiveness, anger, resentment and bitterness besiege my heart and ultimately control my actions to the point where even the very word God gives me to give to someone else is tainted by these evils.  In all honesty, it can be easy to be ensnared and consumed by this trap, especially when you’re accused of things you didn’t do or when you’re rejected for reasons unbeknownst to you.  The enemy’s agenda, which has been the same since Adam and Eve, is revealed to us by Jesus in its simplest form in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy”; however, immediately following is Christ’s agenda, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  What we must do each time we’re confronted with adversity is choose whom we will agree with: the enemy of Christ.  Me?  I choose Christ!

Though choosing Jesus sounds like the obvious choice or the easy answer, do understand that choosing Christ certainly comes with a price.  Unlike the enemy, Christ makes it extremely clear that following Him requires you to pay a price.  There’s no getting around it.  In Luke 9:23, He tells us, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”  In John 15:18-20 Christ states, ““If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.”  He also states in Matthew 5:10 (MSG), “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.”   This makes it very clear that there is indeed a price we as believers must pay while we are here on earth.  However, our persecution and suffering here doesn’t even begin to compare to the countless number of blessings we have in Christ, both here as well as in heaven. 

Last year I made a big, solid decision; a decision that at one time I didn’t think was possible for me to make though it was desired; and a decision that took me decades to finally realize.  It’s because of this decision that I am now able to focus on God while undergoing undesirable circumstances, and it is this very decision the enemy tries to undermine.  It is this decision that many Christians do not make, myself included prior to last year.  What was the decision you might ask?  The decision I made was to finally surrender unto God and to truly follow Him without any regard to where He may lead because He always causes us to triumph in Christ (2 Cor. 2:14). That, of course, is impossible without trust, faith and love; which I asked Him to help me with.  I decided to put Proverbs 3:5-6 into practice each day of my life, and this became easier the more I began to realize how incredibly weak I was and how all-powerful He was and is.  I decided I would give Him all that I had, which in fact was all given to me by Him.  It was no more of me making time for God “whenever I can” but instead putting Him where He belonged and deserved to be which is first and foremost in my life.  Since I truly began to realize that I was created by Him and for Him, I began to find it robbery to not give Him the glory in my life – even in my weaknesses.

This decision came as the result of experiencing years of torment, pain and brokenness.  Regardless of how hard I tried, I was unable to experience real joy because I kept putting everything else where God should be, such as men, relationships, careers, the selfish desire to just “do me” and indulge in lustful desires.  It’s amazing how the enemy flaunts sin like it’s the greatest thing in the world yet he purposely omits the fine print – 5 minutes of sinful pleasure may ultimately cost you your soul.  I was fortunate in that I was saved since 12 years old; however, I spent most of my life fighting God rather than submitting to Him.  Once I made the decision to surrender, it was as though life truly began for me.  I was finally free and filled with an unspeakable joy – knowing that I was finally walking in accordance to God’s will and purpose for my life.  I finally moved out of God’s way so that He could have His way in my life.  And you know what?  It was and is wonderful!   

I could continue but I think you understand the point that I’ve been trying to make throughout this entry.  There is such a liberty in Christ that is absolutely amazing; however, it does come with a price.  I can honestly say that my decision to surrender has been challenged repeatedly, and I’ve since been verbally and mentally attacked, and almost physically assaulted.  I’ve been ridiculed, wrongfully accused, reviled, rejected, belittled, misunderstood and spoken ill against even by my spiritual family.  I’ve seen the enemy use others to project onto me what they in fact feel or think about themselves.  I’ve seen him attempt to confuse me by sending people with tainted words or prophesy, having the person to speak out of their own opinion, judgment or even dislike of me.  In addition to this, I know what it is to be humbled, and I know what it is to literally live on a prayer. 

BUT

If you were to ask me how I viewed my life, I would tell you that I am more free and whole than I’ve ever been, and that I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.  If you were to ask me if I would trade what I’m experiencing now with all the pleasures and money I once had before, I would tell you absolutely not!  This is real talk.  I am completely in love with Jesus and I trust Him more than I ever have, and this produces a great sense of peace and joy.  As for wealth, I never had anything that compares to what I now have and what God has in store for me, both in the natural and spiritual realm, and to enjoy both on earth as well as in heaven.   God has blessed me with incredible wealth, both spiritually and naturally, and He is laying down the foundations so that I can disburse them as He sees fit.  I almost feel like I am watching a movie called “My Life” and like everyone else, I have to wait to see how all these pans out.  I’ve seen the previews and the trailers, but I have to wait to see how the Director brings it all together.  One thing I do know is that it is great and it is wonderful!  Absolutely two thumbs up!

Everybody’s walk and path is different; however, God’s promises are for ALL who believe!  Make the decision to believe God regardless of how crazy or impossible it appears to be; for He is not bound to our limitations.  Make the decision that you will trust and have faith in Him regardless of how the situation appears; for without faith it is impossible to please God.  Most of all make the unyielding decision that there is no price too high for you to pay for living in the will of God for your life and receiving the manifold blessings He has for you – both now and ever.

Peter began to say to Him,

“Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”

Jesus said,

“Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”

–Mark 10:28-30

May the Spirit of God abide in you and lead you in all truths, and may your heart receive God’s truth with great happiness, joy and most of all determination to live in accordance to His Truth, in Jesus’ name. 

Amen.

© 2009, Naima Williams. All rights reserved.