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SHAREyouth# It’s not worth it!

IIf 2020 has taught us anything it has revealed the true reality of the coming persecution in the world we live in. By the grace of God, you were able to overcome and continue to overcome the troubles of this life but now is not the time to fall back into bondage to the habitual sin that oppressed us. It’s simply not worth it. Without getting overly spiritual, I want you to think of the effort and strides you took in denying yourself by beating the flesh into submission to the Spirit in order to overcome and not fall into temptation. Try to remember the physical pain and emotional longing you felt when the body wanted to delve into past sin, the lightheadedness and dizziness when you fasted for the first time to starve your body and feed the spirit, and the many opportunities you denied yourself of sin and its temporary enjoyment and relief. All these tremendous efforts you’ve

taken to kill the flesh, is it worth it now to delve back into sin? It’s just not worth it.

Now is the time to have a better idea of eternity and what it means for us.

Hebrews 13:14-15 NLT says, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.”

Today, our allegiance to God will be called into question. Having denied yourself of the pleasures of sin, will you now compromise yourself, God’s temple, for the chance of survival? If this world is not your home, it’s not worth it. We often hear Christians recite ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel’ and the general understanding is that there is a responsibility to stand for God despite the persecution faced. However, persecution is not just taking a bullet for Christ or burning at the stake in His name. Persecution is also the isolation and social pressure you may have to endure for living for Christ and in today’s world this could be viewed as a restriction on movement, job loss or some disciplinary action to persuade you to question your allegiance, is it worth it? Hebrews 11:13-16 NLT says, “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously, people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” So then, will you be ashamed of God if you are faced with the decision to go against the truth and principles of Christ in order to benefit from the world’s systems? To eat well and travel freely while living on earth may come at a cost of bearing the mark of the beast, so where would your allegiance lie

then? If you are confident in Christ and know that there is a place prepared for you in a heavenly homeland, it’s not worth it. p

By Lacia Whyte A debut writer with SHARE Magazine an Energy Economist, a critical thinker and God chaser.