Romans 8:17<NLT> says “…..In fact together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.” As a young person loving God and living for Him, you are working according to His will, the fact that you face challenges doesn’t mean God is through with you, or that you can just quit. No, you are still in His will. This generation wants crowns without crosses, but Jesus says if you want to reign with me, you have to share in my suffering. He never played games with people, he didn’t sugar coat his words like he was marketing a product, he said pick up your cross and follow me. There are some things you only learn about God when you go through suffering, standing in the fire like Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego, all of a sudden God reveals Himself to you and He takes the heat out of the fire.
Do you remember that the will of God got Jesus crucified? Yes it did! And here you are thinking His will is just to bless you. His will can take you through all kinds of things to purify your heart and character. God’s will took Joseph into the pit and then to the prison and then to a platform to save His entire family (which turned out to be a nation). In spite of all the challenges he faced, Joseph was fierce and fearless, he resisted the temptation to commit sexual sin, while in jail he helped others with their dreams while his own was not really working out for him. Paul fiercely loved God and fearlessly preached the gospel despite trials, persecutions and afflictions.
You are a soldier in God’s army, therefore you ought to stand and fight, and you have all that you need to triumph. It is also a pleasant thing to know that Christ has already won the victory; therefore we fight from victory and not for victory. This is a call that we will not refuse; we are soldiers in God’s end time army, enlisted into battle equipped with the shield of faith, sword of truth, breast plate of righteousness, helmet of salvation to withstand the wiles of the devil <Ephesians 6:10-18>.
Do you really want to be a soldier and have nothing to show for it? I mean to have the spoils of victory you must have engaged in battle, right? What about scars from the battle that soldiers so often show off with pride? Paul said I bear in my body the scars that show that I belong to Christ<Gal 6:17>. Finally in Ezekiel 28 <NLT>, God boasted to the devil about us when He said, “..Because you think you are as wise as God, I will now bring against you a foreign army,” (strangers in the KJV) “…they will draw their swords against your marvelous wisdom and defile your splendor! They will bring you down to the pit…” I strongly suggest we read Ezekiel 28: 2- 19 in the NLT Version, so that we can see what was said concerning us and what is expected of us. Psalm 112: 6-8 <NLT> also says “…..Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.”
God is counting on us! Let’s be fierce and fearless in our service to Him, this is the reasonable response fit for a King who was humble enough to be nailed to a cross. Backsliding is not an option, also having Christian tendencies is not enough, let’s be real Christians! Remember, if you are young and you love God, you are not alone; we are a generation of young people loving God every time and everywhere!
Fierce and Fearless Romans 8:17<NLT> says “…..In fact together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.”