You are truly welcome here!
I've written before about my love for mountain climbing or just climbing in general. The feeling of standing on the top of a high place and seeing the world from above is breathtaking. However, the top isn't the only part of the journey worth talking about.
When you set out to climb a mountain there are a lot of undesirable issues you must deal with to get there. There is the hassle of camping and gear if you choose to make it an overnight trip. There is the issue of sustenance, for you will surely need the energy to make it to the top. Because you must have sustenance you will have to carry that weight on your back. This creates more weight for you to have to haul up the mountain.
Then there's the sheer feat of climbing the mountain. No mountain is "easy". Some are less difficult than others, but your body does strange things above 10,000 feet of elevation. As you climb there are rocks that you trip on. There is often snow to be traversed. There are aching muscles from the constant upward motion. Then there's the dreaded issue of having to go to the bathroom above tree line (embarassing).
Climbing a mountain is fun and rewarding, but it is also difficult and painful.
When you listen to many preachers talk about life in Christ you hear about love, joy, peace, kindness and other such beautiful ideas. You hear about grace and forgiveness. Who wouldn't want those things? Christianity sounds awesome, right?!
What they don't tell you is that Christianity is like climbing up the mountain. The summit experience is awesome, but you have to go through the climb of life to get there. It isn't all cake and roses and fluffy puppies. Sometimes Christianity is tears and pain and division and struggle.
Jesus was very clear that the Kingdom of Heaven -- the kingdom that is here and now in those allowing Christ to rule in their hearts -- is much more desirable than the kingdoms of this world with their selfishness and tyranny. However he also made a couple of statements that aren't so popular.
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."
He also promises this:
"In this world you will have trouble."
Well, that's not very happy. It doesn't seem like Jesus is doing the best job marketing this new kingdom life.
Think about it though. Have you ever made a decision you knew was right, yet everyone around you was angry with you for the decision you made? Have you ever loved someone even though they hurt you? Have you ever risked your life for someone else? Then you know what Jesus is talking about.
We choose to live for Christ because He is teaching us the way of love, but not everyone likes this way. Some people even hate this way of life because our living this way exposes the darkness within them. They revile against it, and division is created, and relationships are damaged.
In Luke 14 Jesus encourages us to count the cost of being his disciple. It will be a struggle, and you will have to be wiling to sacrifice everything for him, but what you gain is so worth it. Forgiveness, grace, eternal life, relationship with the Creator, purpose in this life. Those things cannot be given a value.
After Jesus promised that we will have trouble in this world, he said "but take heart because I have overcome the world."
Jesus doesn't leave us alone to deal with these struggles ourselves. He has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He has promised to take every circumstance and bring good out of it (Romans 8:28). He has promised to love you, and he showed it by dying for you. He gave his life for you. Are you willing to go through a little bit of struggle for him?
One more thing.
In Jesus there is a new perspective that I learn day by day as I follow
him. The more I live like Jesus the less concerned I am with myself
because I am learning to love others more. This brings pain at times
when I am rejected, but this also brings hope in all things because of
the resurrection. I now have a choice on how I look at the hard times. I
choose to look at them as learning experiences and refining fire that
makes me stronger. I choose this because I know that this life is not
all there is for me. My eternal life began when I gave my life to Jesus,
and it reaches its fullness once this physical life reaches its limits.
Death is not the end, so I live this life with joy and hope whatever
the situation.
Count the cost before you come to Christ, but know that the cost is well worth it for the joy of knowing the Creator and living in His presence. And if you're already in Christ, live with the perspective of hope in all circumstances. Jesus is with you. His Spirit lives inside you. You are eternal -- your pain doesn't have to be.