“A WALK IN THE PARK”
The above expression is used at times to refer to the ease of doing something. In life, some things are easy while others rate the wording of “hard”. Jesus speaks about His yoke being “easy”. In the sense of the hardness of sin and its consequences, what the Lord offers is easy. The way of the transgressor is hard (Proverbs 13:15). We can observe at times individuals who appear to have all of the world’s goods and yet they are evil. Appearances can be deceiving. The Scriptures show that the way of the transgressors is hard. Compared to what sin does to the life, body and soul, the way of the Lord is an easy burden.
The change in our own thinking is what makes the way of the Lord easier than a life of sin. John speaks about our need to love God. That love is obeying the commands of God (I John 5:3). As we mature in the Christian faith the understanding comes that the commands of God are not grievous. Responding in a loving way to the commands of God brings about a maturity which enables us to see how much easier it is to serve God than Satan. If we needed any more motivation all we have to do is look at the source. God wants us to be saved (II Peter 3:9). Satan wants us to join him in hell for all eternity. We pause then to say the way of the Lord is best and easier than the way of wrong- doing.
Lest anyone make the mistake of seeing the Christian life as a “rose garden” we hasten to add that the life of following God is easier but it is no “walk in the park”. Paul warned Timothy to endure “hardness” as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:3). The Christian life, therefore, is, at times, a struggle. On five separate occasions Paul was whipped by the Jews. He was beaten with rods on three occasions. He was stoned and suffered shipwreck some three times. Such events in any person’s life would show that at times there is “hardness” to endure. The yoke of the Lord as stated in Matthew 11:28-30, speaks about the help provided by the Lord through the Word. As Paul says, we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
A constant study of God’s Word leads us to an understanding between “easy” and “hard” situations. We exercise our senses (value system) by discerning between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). The more we study the clearer the picture of what it takes to please God becomes (I John 3:22). We restrain our appetites and curb our lusts (Titus 2:12). Such an effort is not easy at times. A key ingredient to faith is knowing that God rewards those who “…diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). No reasonable person could read the word “diligently” and come away thinking it is a “walk in the park”. It is great effort to add to our faith in a diligent manner (II Peter 1:5). We put effort into understanding the will of God and it comes at the price of willing obedience (Acts 17:11).
How then is the burden of the Lord, easy? The ease is due for the most part because of the One who walks with us. If we walk in the light as He is in the light we enjoy fellowship with God and with each other. Having the Lord on our side, who then can be against us (Romans 8:31). The Word of God in written form is able to build us up and give us an inheritance with all the saints (Acts 20:32). Being a part of the house of God, that is the family of God, provides us with untold strength. The prayers of those who love us are able through the Word to sustain us in our dark hours. In this sense, the burden of the Lord is easy.
The task for us is to keep encouraging one another in the pursuit of the Lord’s way. When we encounter the hardness as mentioned above, we have a tremendous source of help that we can rely on. The promise is that God is able to do more than we “ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). At times our message is one of hope. We keep doing the things that God commands and we develop a trust in Him, that He will see us through what ever arises. We, therefore, live by hope (Romans 8:24; Hebrews 6:18,19). We face the hardness with this great truth. God will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
His burden is light because we know it is not grievous. His commands are always what is best for us. We gladly, therefore, submit our will to His and allow Him to direct our steps (Jeremiah 10:23). The Christian life is no “walk in the park” neither is it an impossible quest. God never requires what we are unable to do through Him.