The Cross, the cross, always the cross

It's been almost eight months since I've written on this little blog.  I'm going to try to start again.  I can't say much except we got waylaid by life.  CPS, FSIS, FDIC, SATAN.  No matter where the problems lie or what kind of issue we have dealt with, I've not done a good job of dealing with it and many times have longed for death.  Thank the good God for the gift of faith, though, because it coupled with the fear of hell, has kept me from dwelling too long in those dark alleys.  

It's been a hard lesson to learn that suffering is actually the path to true and lasting joy, maybe not in this life, but ultimately and forever.  It's not a surprise mind you.  Christ was clear as a bell.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy,[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few."  

Matthew 7:13-14

"[Y]ou will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." 

Mark 13:13

"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it."  

Luke 9:23-24

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:1-2,4-6

But it's hard.  It does not feel at the moment like the easy burden and the gentle yoke promised by Jesus, unless you keep it in context.  That's one thing, all the quotes above are coupled.  A promise with a threat.  If you bear your cross then you will be saved, if you don't you will go to hell.  Suffering feels like hell, but it isn't, it's just unpleasant.  Even a slow death being tortured by one's enemies isn't hell, it's just really unpleasant.  See here:

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Matthew 10:28

So there you go.  You, me, your sweet Aunt Mabel, the neighbor kid down the street, my darling baby boy, we're all going to suffer.  But how well are we going to suffer?  I'm going to try to suffer well and persevere until death, come what may.  

 "[K]eep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong."

1 Peter 3:16-17