The Cross and the Crown

3:10-11 being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

The "in order that" is a significant phrase to notice here. It is not just that we are now called to suffer and later will be called to glory. The former in some way prepares us for the latter.

Though we would much prefer to experience comfort and ease in this life, the Bible makes it pretty clear that this is not an option for the Christian. Those who are at ease in this world will not be at ease in the world to come. "Woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way." (Luke 6:24-26)

In order to obtain the sweetness of heaven, one must be willing to taste the bitterness of earth. If there is no cross there will be no crown. If there is no pain there will be no gain. "...we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." (Rom.8:17) The cross is the path to the resurrection, for us as it was for Jesus. In order to attain to His resurrection, we must be conformed to His death. In order to live we must die.

We are not here to enjoy this world, we are here to enjoy our great God. We are not here to relax, we are here to serve Him. Sure, there is a form of enjoying this world and a form of relaxing that is glorifying to God, but there is also a form more natural to our flesh that is not God-seeking but self-seeking and world-loving.

The calling of God upon His people is to die every day: to die to oneself, to die to this world, to die to pride and selfishness, to die to human approval, to die to all our earthly securities, to die to sin, to count this life as fleeting and short, to resist the pull to consider this world as our home. This is the key to resurrection power now and full resurrection on the last day.

"...if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." (Col.3:1-5)

Jesus, I my cross have taken

All to leave and follow Thee.

Destitute, despised, forsaken,

Thou from hence my all shall be.

Perish every fond ambition,

All I’ve sought and hoped and known;

Yet how rich is my condition:

God and heaven are still my own

Go then, earthly fame and treasure!

Come disaster, scorn and pain!

In Thy service, pain is pleasure;

With Thy favor, loss is gain.

I have called Thee, "Abba Father";

I have stayed my heart on Thee

Storms may howl and clouds may gather;

All must work for good to me.

O Lord my God, forgive me for how reluctant I am to be conformed to the death of Your beloved Son. How resistant I am to letting go of my pride! How difficult it is for me to say no to earthly comfort and pleasure, or to say yes to earthly pain! I am ashamed at how many ways my life contradicts the truth of the gospel that life comes through death. If I really believed that, I would be willing to die. Please help me, Lord, in my unbelief. Please flood me with grace and lift me up to serve You and receive troubles with joy and gratitude. Please burn away my self-pity and pride.