Easy?

By Newman Hall

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Revelation 21:7, "He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son."

To be a true Christian is not so easy a thing as some suppose. It is not merely . . .
  true beliefs,
  an evangelical creed,
  attending a scriptural church,
  a comfortable sermon once or twice a week. 
It is not this, which constitutes genuine Christianity.

You who think that religion is so very easy a thing—be apprehensive lest, when too late, you find that you have experienced nothing of saving religion.

Easy? For a depraved being, to trample upon his lusts?
For a proud being, to lie prostrate with humility and self-reproach?
For those who are slow of heart, to believe?
For the educated man, to receive the Gospel as a little child?

Easy? To crucify the flesh?
To deny ungodliness?
To cut off a right hand, and to pluck out a right eye?

Easy? To be in the world, and yet not of the world?
To come out from it, not by the seclusion of the cloister, but by holiness of life?
To be diligent in its duties, yet not absorbed by them?
To appreciate its innocent delights, and yet not ensnared by them?
To behold its attractions, and yet rise superior to them?
To live surrounded by objects which appeal to the sight, and yet to endure as seeing what is invisible?

Easy? To pray and see no answer to prayer—and still pray on?
To fight this battle, and find new foes ever rising up—and still to fight on?
To be harassed with doubts and fears—and yet walk on in darkness, staying ourselves upon God?

Easy? To be preparing for a world we have never visited, in opposition to so much that is captivating in a world where we have always dwelt . . .
 whose beauties we have seen,
 whose music we have heard, and
 whose pleasures we have experienced?

Easy? To resist that subtle foe who has cast down so many of the wise and the mighty?

Easy? When Jesus says it is a "narrow gate," and that if we would enter, we must strive, bidding us to "take up our cross daily, deny ourselves, and follow Him?"

Ah! It is no soft flowery meadow, along which we may languidly stroll—but a rough, craggy cliff that we must climb.

It is no smooth, placid stream, along which we may dreamily float—but atempestuous ocean that we must stem!

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to!" Luke 13:24