Grumble Stumble

         'It’s hard' is not a reason to sin. 

         The life of the saint is the life of a soldier. He presses forth in extreme difficulties. His commitment and submission to authority keeps him moving forward.

The Christian life is the life of the farmer, who toils in the dirt. He plants and cultivates and waits upon the early and latter rains. He is at the mercy of the elements and of His God but if He grows weary and walks away, there will be no harvest.

A Christian is an athlete who buffet his body in order to win the prize. But if he cheats or grows discouraged or shrinks from the hard work of training, then the prize is forfeit. It is only those who press on, looking for the prize on the other side of suffering who hear those anticipated words, “Thou good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.”

How do you get to the point where you quit Jesus? I call it the grumble stumble.  A little complaining here and a little grumbling there and eventually the weight of the marathon run of the Christian life accumulates to unbearable. Then you hit stop. 

        Repentance, forgiveness and gratitude make all the difference. They produce perseverance. Let us take that road.