There is a decision to make. As we mentioned earlier in this book, you can choose to live of this world, or live of the Spirit of God.

Matthew 7:13-14 - “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

There is a fork in the road, a split in the path; which way will you go? One path is wide and easy, and well travelled. Often our instinct is to follow the crowd - if people are going that way, that must be the right way to go. But if you know that the end of that path leads to destruction, to eternal damnation, wouldn’t you choose the other path? Wouldn’t you try to warn people not to go down the easy wide path?

Yes, narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to eternal life - it’s not going to be easy - Christians are persecuted around the world. In North America we have it pretty good, but the time is coming when the church will be heavily persecuted.

In Matthew 5, Jesus was teaching:

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What else do we have to do:

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Even harder:

43 “You have heard that is was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

This is contrary to the world behaviour of "me first", protect my interests first above everyone else, sacrifice others for my own gain. That is not what we are supposed to do. Even when it is not an easy path to follow.

But when you think that God’s Son, Jesus, came to earth to take on all of our sins, and died on the cross for each and every one of us, that we may believe on Him and have everlasting life, that is the ultimate sacrifice. It makes my own suffering feel quite inconsequential and bearable. Yet there is hope and strength through all the tough times.

Psalms 23 is quite familiar to most, but it sums all of this up quite nicely:

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.