Читать книгу Beyond the Horizon - Harry A. Renfree - Страница 69

March 03

There’s an impression being spread in some Christian circles that being a Christian guarantees you a somewhat lavish, carefree lifestyle . . . in short almost all your troubles are over. The whole idea is bothersome because it bears hardly any resemblance to a cross and smacks of conformity to the world rather than to the One who said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Jesus indeed indicates that we are likely to receive no applause at all from those on the streets of life. The apostle John quotes Him: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18–19). Not much applause there. A little later Jesus adds: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20b).

Just before his crucifixion, Jesus said: “In this world you will have trouble.” Then he gave this promise: “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

God does not promise that life will be a bed of roses, free from trials, without any pain. But He does promise strength to overcome. Annie Johnson Flint’s poetry, which became the words for the hymn “What God Hath Promised,” tells us about some of God’s promises. The first verses and refrain are as follows:

God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower–strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.2