“O taste and see that the Lord is good”(Psa 34:8). Indeed, when a person got saved he received a “taste of heaven”. It tastes something different that a saved person cannot express what an awesome and unspeakable joy it is. That was we experience when we accepted the gift of salvation because along with that gift was a deep sense of joy far from the things of this world has to offer.
However, as the days pass by, we notice a change in our feeling, the “taste” that bring joy in our heart were gone. Our joy suddenly turns into mourning because of many unpleasant things happening in our life as being a follower of Christ. Jesus said, And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Mat 10:38.
We must not be surprised, the cross symbolized hardship and suffering. After you taste heaven you now come to take the cross and follow Jesus and that is something called a taste of a little bit of hell here on earth. After salvation, what is the next real thing? Absolutely it is the things you will not expect. There will be persecution, insults, false accusation and other evil manner because you are in Christ (Mat 5:11) and that is suffering. Those are the cross (suffering) that you must carry wherever you are.
There is a paradox here a saved person should see and understand. You must really suffer to have a real joy. Yes! You must suffer as a Christian that differs from non Christian. It means because of you are in Christ, belong to him you are being persecuted, insulted and laugh at. If that so, then rejoice and be glad for you are as what the bible describe was blessed, “
"How blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely because of me! Mat 5:11.
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God is resting on you. Of course, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker. But if you suffer for being a Christian, do not feel ashamed, but glorify God with that name. 1Pe 4:14-16
To be persecute, insult, mock, laugh at you and say evil of you because you are in Christ are something that was not enjoyable in the natural sense. But if we look at it beyond of what our eyes could see and beyond of what we feel, those things will be a truly thrilling and exciting experience. And faith is the important substance to have that wondrous experience. Faith is the assurance of things we hope for, the certainty of things we cannot see” Heb 11:1 . We must see, feel, and taste beyond of what the natural man senses naturally which is of the flesh and carnal.
We cannot see beauty in suffering and we have no assurance when things get tough around us but because of the faith we have in God all things turn upside down. Whatever circumstances good or bad it ends up all for our own good (Rom 8:28). When we suffer for Christ sake we should be happy not because we are pretending or trying to be happy but it is because of the “Spirit of Comfort” which is the Holy Spirit moving and working in a very special way within us.
Initially, after salvation, what is the next real thing? Take the cross, and you must claimed by faith that you are blessed if you suffer for His name sake (Mat 5:11). Of course, it will only takes place when you regularly read the bible, pray, fellowship and testify about Christ. Keep these in mind and keep doing about all these things so God will give you the divine enablement to become happy even in the midst of all odds.
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