The Road Most Traveled

This morning my pastor made the following statement in his sermon, "God seldom leads us down the easiest path." He was sharing his view about the Christian life when he was a young man. He used to think that the older a person becomes in Christ, the more mature they become, so naturally, their life will be easier. He had the rose-colored glasses syndrome. He now understands that the Christian life is full of trials and even persecution. Nowhere in scripture is there a promise that we will not endure hardship. Acts 14:22 states, “Through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God.” Our Lord instructed His disciples with these words found in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Christians are not spared the trials that come from their flawed human body. Illness and disease do not discriminate. The body gets old and eventually fails. Scripture tells us that is appointed unto man once to die (Hebrews 9:27). Many godly men and women experience depression and anxiety. No one is immune. While the Christian life is the narrow road (Matthew 7:14), the road of suffering is the road most traveled for the believer in Jesus Christ. Thankfully, even our trials, suffering, and persecution help perfect us in the sight of God. They also bring us together as a community of believers. Paul wrote in Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." We have the promise that God will not only be faithful to His church, He will also be faithful to each person who is a member of His body. The Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:10, "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."

May the Lord Jesus Christ be your source of richest blessing.

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

I read Pilgrim's Progress annually.