It’s not an easy path to the King’s City, but the bitter must come before the sweet, and the bitter will make the sweet even sweeter. In other words, the decision to follow Christ will introduce difficulties that you otherwise would not have encountered, for spiritual forces of evil will attempt to hinder you from trusting in Christ and from leading others to do the same. But just as Christ had to suffer and die before entering glory, so too we must endure the bitter sting of earthly suffering and death before entering the sweet bliss of eternal life.

• Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

We need not fear, our king is near.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Evan