Show Me Your Friends, I'll Show You Your Future
- Kingdom Kulture
- Nov 4, 2025
- 7 min read
Growing up, success was something that I'd always strived for. After years of listening to podcasts and interviews of some of the most accomplished people of society, there was one philosophy they seemed to all share. A majority of society's most accomplished individuals believe that the chances of your success increase or decrease significantly based on the individuals you surrounded yourself with.
I believed this with all of my heart and started to reconstruct my life accordingly. If a conversation didn't have purpose, I immediately found myself planning on how I could prevent myself from wasting any more precious time and never engage in a similar situation or conversation again.
For success in this world, mostly everyone would agree that if you aren't around the right type of people you are almost guaranteed to fail. As Christians, we are also called to separate ourselves from those whose minds and hearts are not fixed on the ways and desires of Christ. Not only do the most successful people of this world believe in separating yourself from certain people to achieve something meaningful in life, according to scripture, God does too.
17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, 18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. -2 Corinthians 6:17-18 AMPC
As followers of Christ, we worship and believe on the name of Jesus. This name compels us to put down our own wants and desires and prepare to suffer and be glorified alongside Christ. It is through our suffering on His behalf that we build the intimacy and chemistry with Him through His Holy Spirit.
It is through the complete surrender of our lives that we can truly be found faithful in the eyes of God. Much similar to choosing our friends and acquaintances in this world, we must also discern who in our life has the Spirit of God taking up permanent residency inside of their heart and has the tangible evidence on display in the way that they treat others.
4 Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. -1 John 4:1 AMPC
This type of person will not necessarily be perfect but will be committed to living for God and denouncing their own will which is raging a war against the will of God. According to Jesus, the path that leads to heaven is narrow and very difficult with that path being paved by the blood and suffering of many of the followers of God who came before us.
13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. 14 But the gate is narrow (contracted [a]by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. -Matthew 7:13-14 AMPC
We must examine ourselves to see if our convictions of faith have led us to suffering alongside Jesus on this narrow road towards Heaven or if we have fallen victim to the pursuit of vanity that leads toward destruction.
22 And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the [Holy] Spirit and obligated and compelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not knowing what will befall me there—23 Except that the Holy Spirit clearly and emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. 24 But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God’s grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy). - Acts 20:22-24 AMPC
My heart goes out to our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are being massacred for the sake of the beautiful name of Jesus. We are saddened at the news of what you are forced to go through but in retrospect we must also realize this is common amongst followers of God throughout the Bible.
35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors [m]and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things [n]impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:35-39 AMPC
Much similar to the encouragement we have from reading about the faith of the ones that came before us, your faith is also an inspiration to us all. Most of us in the western parts of the world have not had the privilege of suffering for the precious name of Jesus in this way but we are inspired by your acts of boldness and perseverance.
41 So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name. 42 Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah). - Acts 5:41-42 AMPC
We see in scripture Paul reacting to those who are standing strong in faith admist trials and tribulations. You can rest assured that your patience and perseverance is an encouragement to everyone throughout the world and even Paul himself.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because [the report of] your faith is made known to all the world and is [a]commended everywhere. -Romans 1:8 AMPC
We must look at those great men and women who used their own blood, sweat and tears to carve the path before us. Much similar to the cement that paves paths today, the blood of the martyrs has paved a concrete path for the remainder of the disciples to follow. Those who first received the honor of picking up their own cross in the face of dire circumstances and through many trials, we see that through their faith they won divine approval from God.
36 Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated—38 [Men] of whom the world was not worthy—roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth. 39 And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, 40 Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them]. -Hebrews 11:36-40 AMPC
You will see that you are amongst great company. God says in His word that it is vital for some of our blood to be spilled before Jesus can return. Let each drop of blood spilled be considered as holy seed that will bring forth a harvest for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
10 They cried in a loud voice, saying, “O Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood on those [unregenerate ones] who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe; and they were told to rest and wait quietly for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed. -Revelation 6:10-11 AMPC
Be encouraged. Jesus is not asking anything of us that He has not first done Himself. If you have joined in fellowship with our brothers and sisters through suffering for the name of Jesus, then we can rest assured that your fate is sealed in Paradise for the eternal future.
2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. Hebrews 12:2-3 AMPC
Final thoughts: Everyone sheds blood, from falling and scraping our knees down to the tiniest drop from a paper cut. However, it is only the blood shed for the name of Christ that fertilizes the soil for His return to earth.
Questions of the day: Are you prepared to seal the testimony of your faith in Jesus with blood?
