But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
Are we ready to follow in their footsteps? Are we ready to know Jesus the way the apostles did? Are we ready to lose those things we now find so precious? (Home, car, modern conveniences and comforts) The road with Him is often filled with worldly loss. What did Jesus tell them?
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29
I am concerned for those still sitting in an institutional church setting where they are being told that God will whisk them away before they encounter any hardships, pain, persecution, or loss. What did Jesus promise us and them?
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:18-27
Be careful of the preaching that tells you you will receive all these worldly things, prosperity, and an easy life, that Jesus will fulfill all your desires. Preaching that tells you you don’t have to prepare for His coming. Preaching that says walking with Jesus is going to be comfortable. The ‘narrow’ steep path isn’t easy on the flesh. It is tiring and fraught with danger. Add to that an enemy that continually tries to get us off His path for us, that tries to thwart every effort we make towards Him. But like Jesus promised the apostles He HAS sent us a Helper (the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit will help us discern the Truth. The Holy Spirit will set His Word (Rhema) in our hearts and minds, which will confirm His direction for each of us who ask Him to do so.
This is the decision of all those terminally committed to Christ, that no matter the loss …we will count it as worth it for knowing Him .. till our very last day of ministry for Him here in the shadowland. (Philippians 1:21)