EASY STREET

By Doug Pierce

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

II Timothy 2:3

I came across this phrase recently that I hadn’t heard for some time. It is a phrase used to describe someone who has supposedly reached a place of wealth and ease in their life. Maybe you’ve heard someone make this comment about another person and say, “Yeah, they’re living on Easy Street.” That is probably the goal of the vast majority of people. They long for Easy Street … and envy those who “appear” to be living there.

For example take the recent Powerball Lottery. I read where the odds of winning the latest $1.5billion dollar Powerball were 1 in 292 million. Those numbers ought to define the phrase “next to impossible” in any dictionary. Yet 635 million tickets were sold in a recent Powerball drawing. Is that crazy or what? Why would so many people waste their money on next to impossible odds like that? To get rich, of course. You see, when you get rich, then you can live the good life …then you’ll be living on Easy Street.

 Christians are not immune to adopting the Easy Street philosophy. The vast majority of us desire (and subconsciously expect?) to live problem-free lives. I mean if we walk with God, He should certainly keep His dear children from ever skinning a knee or any difficulties, right? Wrong.

Here is the bottom line.

We like Easy Street, but God does not. Mark it down; anything worthwhile in life takes effort, energy, hardship, blood, sweat, and tears. Jesus was and is God. As God, He could do anything. Yet, He had to endure the suffering and horrors of the cross in order to purchase our salvation. There was no other way except down that lonely path of suffering. Without His suffering, we were doomed. Life for Jesus was anything but easy.

 THE MINDSET OF A SOLDIER –

The Apostle Paul was arguably the greatest Christian who ever lived. Was his Christian life easy? Absolutely not! He suffered greatly for the cause of Christ, which ended with his arrest and beheading under the Roman Emperor Nero. Paul never once thought the Christian life should be all honey and no bees. From the beginning, he knew there would be major suffering as he followed Jesus (see Acts 9:16). That’s why Paul adopted the mindset of a good soldier of Christ Jesus … a mindset all believers need to have. Why? Because we are in a spiritual battle against an enemy we must never attempt to face in our own strength…

A good soldier knows he must be disciplined and equipped for the battles ahead.

A good soldier knows the going will be tough.

A good soldier knows the enemy is real.

A good soldier knows the battle will be fierce.

A good soldier knows there will be hardships and suffering.

A good soldier knows that quitting is not an option.

A good soldier knows that Easy Street is not found on the battlefield.

A good soldier knows that even though the battle must be fought, Jesus has already won the war!

 FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!

The Bible says in I Peter 4:1,

“…Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], ARM YOURSELVES [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God]...(Amp V.).

Would you join me in taking on the mindset of a good soldier of Christ Jesus? Remember, this world is NOT our home. “Our citizenship is in heaven”(Philippians 3:20). We are in the Lord’s army. Easy Street is not a place on earth for the child of God. Easy Street will come one day when we walk on the gold street in heaven! Until that day, let’s roll up our sleeves, take the hits in stride, and keep trusting our General until He calls us home.

Think it over…and then pray about it.

Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren.

You can read more about Doug and his ministry here.

Feature Photo by Daniel Barnes used with Permission