Being a Christian-Easy & Hard

It can be said that being a Christian is easy and hard. Jesus said that it is easy, at least in a sense, "Come unto Me all that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest....My yoke is easy and My burden is light."(Matt. 11). But we know that there is a sense that it can be hard. Jesus said, in effect, they will hate you, but they hated Me, expect persecution. And Paul was very dedicated, but he suffered greatly for the cause.


Consider this: Some people make it too easy, and some people make it too hard. Too easy, because they say, "God's grace will save me. That's it; I'm good;" or "We are all going to the same place, just taking different paths." But Jesus said: "..narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Yet, some people make it all too hard with all kinds of complex and deep analysis and interpretations. God's plan is quite simple to understand. He developed the history of man through the Old Testament, preparing for a Messiah to come. Jesus comes, lives, dies and is raised (Matt., Mark, Luke, & John). Jesus ascends to heaven, sending back the Holy Spirit, leaving the spread of the gospel to the Apostles (Acts) who proceed to show how people become Christians and the church is formed. How to live the Christian life is given to us in the epistles or letters (Romans through Jude).

Now, perhaps I make it all seem to simple. To me, the plan is simple, following it is not. But Jesus knows this; he was tempted in all ways as a man. Paul talked about the difficulties of always doing right in Romans 7:14 on. Living it is hard! All of us have our struggles. Romans 3;23 says "..all have sinned."

But I see two kinds of people in the world: those who are in sin and are going to stay there, and those who, sometimes sin (because all do), but are determined to do better, who repent when they are wrong, who are committed to obeying God, who try, who try to do what Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your mind on things above..." (Read all of Col. 3-it will tell you how to live).

Being a Christian can be hard in this life; but it is easy because it brings peace, it is God's way, and He knows best, and it is right!......and ultimately it will bring salvation. Peace to you! See you next week.