A Spiritual Backbone

Paul went through an extreme amount of hardship, physical torture, and persecution. It boggles the mind to read of everything he endured for the sake of Christ.

Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him. II Corinthians 11:23-33 (New Living Translation, NLT)

Paul had something that most of us lack: spiritual backbone. He was committed to Christ no matter the cost. He was so determined to follow God that on numerous occasions he endured things that would have killed most people. If we were to study the exact meaning of the things he went through, we would be even more impressed than we are. For example, to be beaten with rods, a person was hung up by his arms with his legs and feet dangling and exposed. A rod was then used to beat them on the back of the legs and the feet. Think of how incredibly painful that had to be. And Paul went through it three times! In addition, he was whipped on several occasions. He was stoned and left for dead (and it is possible that he really did die but was resurrected). He was afloat in the sea for a night and a day. He went through shipwreck three times. He had to flee from cities to escape more torture and possible death. It is difficult to even wrap our minds around all the troubles he faced.

How does our situation compare to his? Are we even close to experiencing the horrific things Paul did? I doubt it. We have become pampered believers. We do not endure hardship like the Bible tells us to. Instead, we complain and moan when we go through difficulties. And please know that I am speaking to myself as much as I am to you when I say these things. We fail to remember that in this world we are guaranteed persecution and hardship. Nobody said the Christian life would be easy. However, we are promised that we will never go through anything alone, and we are also promised ultimate victory.

What would have happened if Paul had given up? If he had thrown in the towel and said that preaching the Gospel of Christ was too difficult for him to do, over half of the New Testament would either not exist today or it would have had to be written by others. The Gentiles he reached would have remained heathens, and much of the expansion of Christianity throughout the known world would have been slowed or stopped. He was committed regardless of his own physical discomfort.

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Philippians 1:20-24 (New Living Translation, NLT)

Today, take a look at the issues you are facing. How do they compare with the hardships of Paul? If Paul was willing to persevere to the end of his race, pressing through unimaginable trials, surely we can too. Commit yourself to the cause of Christ. Get a spiritual backbone. Fight the good fight. He will help you. It will be worth everything you’ll ever go through to hear the Lord say, “Well done.”