So many people today are still of the opinion that having a relationship with God and enjoying the benefits of Christian life is something that is hard, or difficult, and reserved for only a handful of special people!
Just a couple of weeks ago I was talking to a lady that helped me at our bank. She asked me what I do, and when she heard that I was a preacher of the gospel she started talking about how difficult Christian life is! Her whole emphasis was on how only a few of the best Christians will make it to heaven one day!
I believe a relationship with God and the Christian life has been viewed as hard and difficult because for too long we have believed that God is angry, distant, and intolerant! This is due largely to our tendency to make it all about rules, regulations, qualifications, and standards!!
Then there is that deep down belief that all of us seem to hold to. That everything worthwhile in life only happens through hard work and sacrifice.True, in everyday life there are a great many things that are hard and difficult but when it comes to our spiritual lives, a relationship with God and experiencing the good life should not be the same!
It is so easy!
According to the New Test, Jesus promised us that our spiritual lives, our relationship with God and experiencing the good life is so easy anyone can do it.
1. Jesus Made it Easy
Jesus makes a wonderful declaration or announcement in the following passage of scripture. He says that through Him, a relationship with God, and experiencing the blessings of Christian life is going to be easy, restful and pleasant!
(Matt 11: 28 – 30) AMP
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer 6:16.]
30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
Come to Jesus and things are Easy and Light!
2. Jesus Made it Easy for Everyone!
(2 Peter 3:8 - 9) KJV
9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.
Here Peter says that God is holding back the end because “He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance!”
The gospel according to Paul goes even further to announce that not only is a relationship with God going to be easy, but it is going to be easy for everyone!
(1 Tim 2:1-4) KJV
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
God wants everyone to be saved…
This means that no man has to be excluded from this relationship with God! If God wanted everyone to be saved, He could not make it obtainable for some and not for others!
- There is no man to week!
- There is no man to strong!
- There is no man to sinful!
- There is no man to poor!
- There is no man to rich!
- There is no man to foolish!
- There is no man to wise! &
- There is no man to far away!
(1 Tim 2:4) AMP
4 Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] truth.
Paul then says that God wants all men to come unto the knowledge of the truth!
Question: The truth about what?
Answer: The truth of how easy it really is because of the finished work of Jesus!
(1 Tim 2: 5 – 6) NLT
5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.
6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time.
Jesus did everything necessary to produce the results needed for every man to have and experience the benefits of relationship with God. There is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people and make the blessings of the kingdom available to every man who will simply believe and trust in Him!
It is so easy even YOU can do it!
