About taking the hard way…
Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,
and only a few find it. (NIV)
You may never get the miracle you need. You may never get the answer you
want. When you make a choice to do what is right and good in God's eyes then you
may have to take the hard way out of any circumstance. In truth, God's way can
often be a difficult way. Taking the hard way should not be the way things are…so
we are inclined to think. If we are willing to give our life away to Christ,
shouldn't He pay us back by giving us an easy road and not make us take the hard
way out of our circumstances? It is a good question, but this good question has
a most distressing answer. The distressing answer to this good question is that
we are to sacrifice for Christ. We are to sacrifice for Christ every second we
are alive. As a true child of God, we must often take the hard way out of our
circumstances. The hard way often means making a sacrifice. The hard way means
turning away from temptation. As a true child of God, we must take the hard way
out and take care of others before we take care of ourselves. As a true child of
God, we must take the hard way out when we pray at times when praying is the
last thing we want to do. As a true child of God, we must take the hard way out
by putting all of our faith and trust in God when we are full of doubt,
uncertainty, and distrust. For sure, as true children of God, there is a payoff
for each of us. For sure, as true children of God, there is a payday. For sure,
as true children of God, there is a time of a glorious outpouring of His love
over us…and that time comes after our old body is completely gone and our new
heavenly body is born. For sure, as true children of God, we are to take the
hard way because the hard way is His way, and when we take His way, there shall
come a time for each of us when the way before us is made smooth and we shall
stand before Him in all of His glory and splendor…waiting to hear His words of
love and compassion say "Well done, good and faithful servant."
