But when I look at Scripture and the lives of the early Christian leaders I’m conflicted with this.  They say crazy things like, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil 3:11).  I see 12 dudes who followed Christ.  One was betrayer and he hung himself.  You might say, “Well that makes sense.”  But then what about the others who were the hardcore Jesus followers.  Check it out:

1.  John died of extreme old age in Ephesus.

2. Peter was crucified, head downward, during the persecution of Nero.

3. Andrew died on a cross at Patrae, in Achaia, a Grecian Colony.

4. James, was thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple, and then beaten to death with a club.

5. Bartholomew was flayed alive in Albanapolis, Armenia.

6. James, the elder son of Zebedee, was beheaded at Jerusalem.

7. Thomas, the doubter, was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel, in the east Indies.

8. Philip was hanged against a pillar at Heropolis (Abyssinia).

9. Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows.

10. Simon died on a cross in Persia (now Iran.)

These are not stories of “Up and to the right”, at least by our worldly successful, performance oriented mindset.  Do you want to go on this path?  Most of us when we are really honest would say, “Heck no.  I want to be safe, careful, and die peacefully in my sleep when I’m 91.” I include myself in this response most days.

But what if these kind of stories are the real and true “Up and to the right.” What if the way down of embracing suffering and the hard stuff of life is actually the true way to a life of love and peace…stuff with eternal significance.   I think with a different mindset- a gospel oriented, Christ centered mindset-they are.  I’m studying Philippians as I get ready to lead our next Journey Bible Class at Cornerstone and I’m blown away at Paul’s attitdue towards his time in prison.  He was landed there for preaching the gospel and causing a ruckus to the Roman status quo.  But he is rejoicing and says that “what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (Phil 1:12).  And because of this “most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”  He’s looking at his imprisonment as a win in his life because it is advancing the news to the world that Jesus is the savior.  This flies in the face of the prosperity gospel that has crept into the church, especially in America.

So, I’m challenged.  Are you?  What is the focus of our lives, what are we striving for, what are we laboring for day after day.  Is it to hopefully one day become comfortable, safe, secure, and rest in easy living?  Or is it to fearlessly and courageously make Christ and his amazing love known to the world…at all costs? Are you all in?