You have no doubt seen the Christian fish <><. People put it on the back of their cars. Sometimes you will see it on a business card of someone looking to promote their “Christian business.” Occasionally you will see an atheist trying to be funny by writing the name Darwin in the middle of a fish growing legs.

The proper name for this symbol is called the Ichthus. This is the classical Greek word for fish. It is spelled out with the greek letters iota, chi, theta, upsilon, and sigma. These are also the first letters for the Greek names of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.

It was a symbol used by early Christians. It was a symbol used especially by the persecuted church. It was used to mark meeting places and the tombs of martyrs. It served as secret symbol. When Christians would meet on the road, the first Christian would draw the top arc of the fish in the sand and the second Christian would draw the bottom half of the arc to identify friend from foe.

So this ancient symbol was used by the persecuted church and and is linked to suffering for the sake of Jesus. I wonder what those persecuted Christians would think if they were to see this symbol of suffering on the backs of our luxury SUV’s. It is a thing of irony.

The way we use the fish is largely a reflection of culture’s misunderstanding of what it means to follow Jesus. If we look at the calling to follow Jesus, it is not a calling to a life of luxury. It’s not a calling to comfort, health, wealth, or prosperity. Rather it is a call to suffering. It’s not the most attractive evangelistic invitation we are accustomed to hearing. It doesn’t go over to well to have people bow their heads, close their eyes and then pray to receive Christ and a life of suffering. The popular message is to accept Christ and all your problems will be solved. However, Jesus’ message is follow me and your life will become difficult.

Jesus doesn’t mix words. He tells us when we follow him we are going to suffer. When we follow Jesus there is no promise of a luxury car or a big house. He says you will have no place to lay your head. He also tells us our friends and family may forsake us. You will be hated. That is a guarantee. If you think about it, Jesus was mocked, beaten, scourged, spit upon, and nailed to a cross. Do we really want to follow him?

The answer is yes! There is no doubt. When we stand in eternity together with Jesus we will not regret we missed out on even one moment of the American dream in light of the reward we will experience. As the Apostle Paul would say, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Our willingness to suffer for the gospel is a direct reflection of where our treasure is at. If our treasure is found here on this earth, then we will strive for all the pleasures and luxuries we can get our hands on. But if our treasure is in heaven, we will be willing to radically risk all. We will not fear poverty, imprisonment, or even death because we know the reward that awaits.