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Heaven Cheap At Any Price, April 24
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple.
Luke 14:27
.
It is too true that the great mass who possess ability and talent do not choose
to travel the Christian road. Are their talent and ability too precious to devote to
the Giver, the Lord of heaven and earth? ...
Many would be followers of Christ if He would come down from the cross
and appear to them in such a manner as they desire. If He would come with riches
and pleasure, many would receive Him gladly and would be in haste to crown
Him Lord of all. If He would only lay aside His humiliation and sufferings and
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cry, “If any man will come after Me, let him please himself and enjoy the world
and he shall be My disciple,” multitudes would believe on Him.
But the blessed Jesus will come to us in no other character than the meek and
lowly Crucified One. We must partake of His self-denial and suffering here if we
would take the crown hereafter....
The Word of God has not widened the narrow way, and if the multitude have
found a path where they can wear a form of godliness and not bear the cross or
suffer tribulation, they have found a way where our Saviour did not walk and they
follow another example than that which Christ set before us. Is it not enough
that Jesus left the felicity and glory of heaven, endured a life of poverty and
deep affliction, and died a cruel, shameful death to provide for us the joys of
holiness and heaven? And can it be that we, the worthless objects of so great a
condescension and love, will seek after a better portion in this life than was given
to our Redeemer?
How easy would be the way to heaven if there was no self-denial or cross!
How worldlings would rush in the way, and hypocrites would travel in it without
number! Thank God for the cross, the self-denial. The ignominy and shame our
Saviour endured for us is none too humiliating for those saved by the purchase of
His blood. Heaven will indeed be cheap enough.
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