I beg your pardon – I never promised you a rose garden

November 23, 2008

Many people believe that becoming a Christian is a ticket to a stress-free, easy life. If you only become a Christian – everything will be alright. You will have peace, joy, happiness. Your bank account will go up. You will be healed of all sickness. Bad breath will go away. Annoying neighbors will become nice.

Is this what the Bible teaches? Is this the reason you’re in church?

I’m afraid that many times the church has advertised itself in this way. You’ve got problems – we got the solutions. It is true, it’s just not true the way most of the world thinks of being true.

You do have problems – but there not the problems you think they are. They are not the problems of health, happiness, money and weight loss. They are the problems of sin, and judgment, heaven and hell.

Many people come to the church hoping to meet their perceived needs. And when troubles, trials, and temptations come ( and they surely will ) they had back out the door.

Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
In Mark 8:34-37 he said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

I was reading that in a province in India, groups are paying $250 to kill a Christian minister. Thousands are having to flee their homes. Churches are being destroyed. People are being tortured and executed for holding fast to the Christian faith.

If you are thinking about becoming a Christian, you should count the cost. It is not a call to simply attend church and eat fellowship dinners. It is a call to take up the cross. If you are not willing to do that, than you aren’t ready to become a Christian.

Remember one thing though. Each of us will have to stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account. And only those who have put on Christ will be acquitted.

God Bless You – Pastor John