The media is filled with products which promise great results for minimal efforts. We are told that we can lose 20 pounds without any exercise and can eat all the foods we want, if we take one little “miracle pill” a day. We can make $100,000 a year by working only 10 hours a week, if we join a popular on-line business group.
A lot of folks must feel the same way about their religious involvement. They desire all the spiritual blessings (forgiveness, peace, fellowship, hope, etc.), as long as they can drop in to worship once a month and give their $50 a year. They want to be spiritual giants tomorrow without giving up any of the pleasures of the world today.
Jesus warned His listeners, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Mt. 7:13-14). Later He said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Lk. 9:23). Paul understood the true price tag of loyalty to Jesus and passed that message along to a young preacher named Timothy by stating, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” ( II Tim. 3:12).
It is difficult to swim upstream, but Christians are called to challenge and resist the evil within culture. The Lord shapes our lives more through adversity and temptation than prosperity (James 1:2-4). Bargain religion is destined to fail, because Jesus demands more. Remember, we were redeemed not with cheap grace but with the blood of the Son of God.
- via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City Church of Christ, Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
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