Enduring the challenges on the journey to the cross has its positive sides. Just as every relationship has its benefits, so is the relationship which we develop with Christ Jesus on the journey. Because it is a personal affair founded on a spiritual relationship, it can only be sustained by the Holy Spirit, to whom we submit absolutely.
Jesus said in Matthew 28: 20, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1: 8 says he will be our teacher and spokesperson (paraphrased). Luke 12: 12 says for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say. Paul also wrote of God saying in Hebrews 13: 5, I will never leave you or forsake you. Why will God not forsake us on the journey to the cross when he can conveniently avoid us as sinners?
To give us access to recover our losses
God knows that we deserve to recover our losses on the journey. Matthew 19: 29 says and anyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. God makes provision for every loss we may incur along the journey so in effect there is no loss at all but gain in eternity. God pays back every free gift he receives from us as cheerful hearts.
To give us the right to ask for God
God has therefore already given those who embark on the journey to the cross the right to ask from him not only regarding their costs along the way but without any limit provided it will bring glory and honour to his holy name. Jesus said in John 14: 14 if in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. The cost on the journey will be repaid. It is a blank cheque to his children who genuinely travel the way of the rugged cross. Jesus will honour the cheque assured and written with his eternal blood and based on his eternal covenant with us. He has enough riches to satisfy our needs.
To give us access to heavenly peace
Jesus said in John 14: 27, peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. Jesus does not want us to confuse worldly peace with his heavenly peace. Jesus’ peace transcends the physical and material and that is what those who travel the way to and of the cross need in a world of unending chaos.
To give us the crown of life
Jesus said in Revelation 2: 10 be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. In order to qualify for the crown, those who undertake the journey must complete it. Part of the journey is disqualifying. The ugliest of all things is to be disqualified when we think we qualify only to be cast into hell fire in eternity. Built in the challenges on the journey are motivations for future rewards that enable us to complete the journey in spite of its challenges, e.g. the companionship of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance to escape eternal death. We must work out our salvation with trembling.
To have God’s sufficient grace
Jesus said in 2 Corinthians 12: 9, my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. In spite of teething challenges along the way, Jesus has assured us of his strength to complement our insufficiency. This shows that we do not face the challenges alone whether visible or invisible, physical or spiritual, Jesus provides the shortfall. The material of grace more than ever suffices every need. It is that which enabled Paul to finish the journey. He termed it a race because he reckoned the time and wanted to be first among equals. We must have the attitude of Paul on this journey.
To experience God’s weapons of battle
Peter said in 2 Corinthians 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. God who knows the nature of the battle we face along the journey with its obstructions along the journey. The weapon is the name Jesus. Philippians 2: 9 says, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
To ensure our names are written in heaven
Jesus said in Luke 10: 20 do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. The journey of the cross is ultimately to qualify for heaven and in that regard whosoever name not written in the book of life will be regarded as having not embarked on the journey. The written name is the most fulfilling in life because God is pleased with us. It is not achieved by our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit by grace. Are our names written in the book of life as having washed our robes in the blood of the lamb, Christ Jesus who has and will never leave us?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we appreciate you for your unfailing assurance that you will forever be with us in this life. We thank you for making divine provision for us on our journey of the cross so we may not face obstructions. Help us to achieve our greatest pride of having our names written in the book of life. Sustain us with your grace to overcome all odds. See us through in your holy name, Amen!!
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