Thoughts for another day

August 4, 2006

Today's verse: 14:22 It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. (NAB)

Christian living: easy? no way. There are thorns and bramble bushes along the way and every true Christian has to walk that way. The saying of Jesus is true even today which is, ‘Take up your cross and follow me.’ My brother/sister, take note: If you feel being born again guarantees a bed of roses, think again.

In the book, The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, the protagonist, Christian, is faced with choices and told which choice will take him towards the Lord; and everyone else tells him the other choice is good. Yet he trudges on the narrow path and finally conquers.

The world has ensconed itself into a comfort zone. Try to upset it and you will be ejected. It was similar in the days Jesus began His Ministry. He shook the people out of their sleep. He challenged them. He made them realise how beautiful our Father is and how His ways lead to eternal life as against their ways which lead to doom. You know what they did to Jesus. Even today, men and women who tell the truth are shunted out. But I believe there is a God who is in control and whose ways remain.

God has His way of running the earth and no one can tell the Owner of the universe what to do. His ways entail suffering but for those whose trust is in Him, there is also the guarantee of safety and strength to move through the storm. So my dearly beloved, if you have Christ above all, not merely on your lips but on your hearts, then get ready to suffer… you can’t escape it, anyway. But let me assure you, even in that suffering there will be a song of praise on your lips.