[b]The road to Heaven[/b]
(Horatius Bonar, "The Surety's Cross")
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24
"Follow Me," Jesus says; and we cannot but yield to His almighty voice. He draws us out of the worldand we follow Him. He leads us in at the strait gateand we follow Him. He guides us along the narrow way and we follow Himour cross upon our shoulder and the crown before our eye!
Smoothness, and brightness, and greennessare not the features of the narrow way; but rather thorns and briars, darkness and dust, and ruggedness, all along; fightings without, and fears within.
The road to Heaven is not so pleasant, and comfortable, and easy, and floweryas many dream. It is not a bright, sunny, flowery path. It is not paved with triumphthough it is to end in victory. The termination is glory, honor, and immortality; but on the waythere is the thorn in the flesh, the sackcloth, and the cross. Recompense yonderbut labor here! Rest yonderbut weariness here! Joy and security yonderbut here endurance and watchfulness, the race, the battle, the burden, and ofttimes the heavy heart.
_________________ SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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