I have had people say to me, “Joshua, why don’t you just focus on the good stuff? Why all this attention to the difficult things?” However, until we learn to deny ourselves, until we learn to honor and obey God’s commandments, and until we learn to have faith in Him – there is no “good stuff”! Jesus Himself taught, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14) There is no easy way to truly following Him! It demands all that we have being surrendered to all that He is!
Too many people today preach the “prosperity” and “feel good about yourself” gospel. But Jesus preached, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and “blessed are those who mourn” and “blessed are the persecuted”! That is the good stuff! Giving up everything that in reality is worthless anyway, and receiving from Him all that we truly need! The Lord said in Isaiah 55:2, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” Seeking the easy road and following the path everyone else is going down does not satisfy and does not lead to good. Jim Elliot, the missionary, said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” And he gave his life trying to bring the true Gospel to natives in Ecuador.
So, Jesus offered “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) But, too often we overlook the “Take my yoke upon you” part of those verses. That’s the difficult part, and the part many people don’t want to talk about. But that’s the crucial part! That’s the good stuff, and the sooner we realize and learn that reality, the quicker we can forsake everything else and follow Him!
No, it’s not easy! Never has been! But, it wasn’t easy for Jesus Christ to die on the cross either. So, why should it be easy for us to follow Him? And after we give up everything to follow Him – we will find the peace that passeth all understanding and the joy unspeakable, no matter how “difficult” life becomes. It’s worth it!