The journey to the cross is fraught with many challenges. The journey is seeking our eternity with God by adapting God’s character, his will and his word. It is a relationship of friendship and not a mere confession or association with believers of the faith. Jesus said in John 15: 15, I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
The journey is an individual affair which is rooted in a heart of righteousness and purity. It is more of a spiritual duty than a physical duty hence it is a battle between two opposing spiritual kingdoms. What are some of the challenges made known to us biblically?
Financial challenges
David said in 1 Chronicles 21: 24, I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing. Doing God’s will entails financial demands and we must have I in contemplation and be ready for it without using foul means to corrupt the kingdom. Jesus commended the widow’s mite, Mark 12: 43; Luke 21: 3. Jesus also appreciated the woman who anointed his feet with oil, Matthew 26: 7-13; Mark 14: 3-6; Luke 7: 37-50. It is the reciprocity of how much we appreciate God.
Broken relationships
Jesus said in Matthew 10: 34-36; Luke 12: 51-53 do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Honesty to God may cause us to sever relationships. In doing so, we must always keep pure hearts, maintain humility and put God first in all we do.
Hate and rejection
Matthew 5: 11-12, blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Also 1 Peter 4: 14. Have goes with malice, false accusations and possible prosecutions. Mark 13: 11; Luke 12: 11 say when they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Smear campaigns and incarceration are part.
Death and misery
Romans 8: 36 says for your sake we are being killed all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. The ordeals of four Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, Daniel 3: 12-20; and Daniel in the lion’s den, Daniel 6: 12-24 show some of the roadblocks on the greatest journey in his life towards the cross. Jezebel killed the prophets, 1 Kings 18: 4. Jerusalem killed and stoned the prophets, Matthew 23: 37; Luke 13: 34. They killed those who foretold of the Righteous One and became bystanders and murderers, Acts 7: 52. Satan afflicted Job, Job 1: 14-19; 2: 7.
Other mixed challenges
2 Corinthians 11: 25 says three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, dangers from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food; cold and naked. And besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant? There are rough times ahead. It is not an easy road at all.
Spiritual battles or warfare
Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, we are not contending against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The journey is primarily spiritual in nature. Spiritual attacks and encounters will come but we must not be afraid or give up. All powers and dominions and authorities and rulers etc. are subject to the authority of Christ Jesus.
Diverse afflictions
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1: 6, if we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same suffering that we are also suffering. Read also 2 Corinthians 4: 8; 6: 4; 7: 4-5. Afflictions demonstrate the dissatisfaction of the enemy against us when we do God’s bidding by embracing the old rigged cross on which the price of glory died for us. The afflictions manifest in diverse forms and varying degrees of intensity. The journey has a lot of bumps but we must patiently endure all till the journey ends.
Unlimited sacrifice
Romans 7: 4 says in the same way, my friends, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 says do not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. We are enjoined to sacrifice our desires and pleasures to Christ as slaves because in truth we are spiritually to God but are redeemed only by his grace. The journey demands strict discipline devoid of reckless behaviour by biblical prescription.
Unconditional care
Romans 13: 8 says owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Paul said in Galatians 5: 13 says through love become slaves to one another. He continued in Galatians 6: 2 says bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Selfless love is exacting but it is a command which must be obeyed. An example is the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10: 30-37. Are we ready and prepared for the journey to the cross?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for reminding us the road to the cross has its challenges yet it is worthy. You were called the suffering king and savior because you were the first to travel that road and with distinction. Please grant us your grace to overcome the challenges along the journey which you have prepared for us. Rather than counting the cost, let us focus on the glory which we may receive in eternity. Be glorified for hearing our humble prayer in your holy name, Amen!!
