If Anybody Thinks This Is Easy, They’re Nuts

There is a very definite reason why the Bible speaks of the “exceeding riches of His grace” (Eph. 2:7), of God being “rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4), of His “abundant mercy” (I Peter 1:3), the “multitude of Your mercy” (Psalm 5:7), that “great is Your mercy” (Psalm 86:13), of His “tender mercies” (Psalm 103:4), that He is “slow to anger and abounding in mercy” (Psalm 103:8), that His mercy is from “everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 103:17). There indeed is a very good explanation for why the Bible describes God’s grace and mercy in such expansive terms.

It’s because we need it.

Anybody who thinks living a Christian life is easy, isn’t trying. And I’m going to prove that in the course of this article. Yes, there is so much to be thankful and joyful for in this religion. But that doesn’t mean it’s simple. And I don’t think it is accidental that the Bible uses such terms as “riches,” “abundant,” “great,” and “multitude” when describing the grace and mercy of Jehovah. The greatest challenge any human faces is to live the Christian life as God intends. None of us do that, but even the effort requires the most supreme manifestation of our will and exertion. To be like God, which is what Christianity demands—and nothing less—is an awesome thought and a daunting trial. And, again, it is far, far from easy.

Why do I say that? Try these verses out for size.

“Blessed are the pure in heart” (Mt. 5:8). Purity of heart. Does that describe you? Where every, single motive behind your every, single action is chaste and uncorrupted? What else does a “pure heart” mean? I can’t tell you what your every motive should be; that’s between you and God. But how often do you and God discuss it, and how often do you make sure that every intention of your heart is what it ought to be?

“Bringing every THOUGHT into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:5). Is every THOUGHT you think in harmony with God’s will? Try it sometime. Tell me it’s easy. In Philippians 4:8, Paul puts it this way: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” The New King James Version says “meditate on these things,” which is probably a closer meaning to the verb. Is your every thought true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and full of praise? Are those the things you “meditate on”? Work on it. It will keep you busy for the rest of your life.

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Luke 13:24). Two thoughts here. The word “strait” means narrow, demanding, strenuous to navigate. The word “strive” is the Greek word “agonidzesthe”; if you see the English word “agonize” in that, then you are perceptive—and correct. Jesus, in effect, says to “agonize” to get into heaven, because the gate to therein is narrow, difficult, and arduous to navigate. Gentle reader, do you ever “agonize” over your sins and Christian life?

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Mt. 5:48). That’s a piece of cake, isn’t it—to be perfect like God. No trouble at all. I’m being facetious, of course. None of do this, but that’s what Jesus said. His teaching was perfect, and it was designed to make us perfect, i.e., to be just like God. Anything less than that is less than what we ought to be. Do you even try to be like God? There is no excuse for sin, folks. “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:2). Don’t sit there and say, “Oh, well, I can have my little sins and God will forgive me.” Uh uh. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20). Did Christ have His “little sins” that He expected God to forgive Him of? No, there is no excuse for sin. As a Christian, your responsibility is to “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven in perfect.” Now, yes, we will sin. But the fact that we will is no excuse to do it.

Do you understand now why the Bible speaks of the “riches” of His grace, the “multitude” of His mercy, His “abundant” mercy, which stretches from “everlasting to everlasting”? The harder you try to live the Christian life and the more you truly want to please God, the more difficult you will realize that it is, because of the weakness and frailty of your flesh. Thanks be to God that He understands that, and is “slow to anger and abounding in mercy.” “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13) because “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:14).