There's a book titled "Your best life now." The title sounds amazing, because it encourages us to believe in God for our best life today. However, in reality our best life isn't here and now unless it's for Jesus Christ alone.

What our best life now is not

Many people have been sucked into believing the wrong things simply because they think, "I'm a child of God." Some think that because God is their Father, they'll be given preferential treatment. Food supplies will be delivered by ravens and angels (a la Elijah), bread and fish will be multiplied to the thousands (a la Jesus), and fishes with some cash in their mouths can be fished right from the water (see Matthew 17:27).

Others believe ridiculous thoughts, such as getting a good parking spot outside the mall, or getting a good seat in the theatres, or perhaps a larger-than-usual slab of steak for the same price. And yes, while God can actually bless us with all these, we are mistaken if we think that living as a child of God brings just all the perks in life.

What our best life now is

In all honestly, biblically speaking, the best life we could live right now is the honour of glorifying God in preaching the gospel to all creation (see Mark 16:15) and being persecuted for the sake of Christ (see Acts 5:41-42). We have been given the privilege of living a new life in Christ, forgiven and freed through His death and resurrection. He suffered so much for us. Who are we to think that we can get off better than Him?

Jesus warned His disciples in John 15 and 16 about the terrible hardships they will face as His followers.

"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me" (John 15:18-21).

"But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry" (John 15:26-27).

"I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me" (John 16:1-3).

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

It's an honour

Friends, it is an honour to face all trials and discomforts if these will bring the gospel to the lost and the perishing, and will shine the light of Christ to all men. Our best life now is the honour of facing hardship for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

After all of this is past, we will receive our rewards. Read the conversation between Peter and Jesus about it, according to Mark 10:28-31.

"Then Peter began to speak up. 'We've given up everything to follow you,' he said. 'Yes,' Jesus replied, 'and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.'"