For Ladies …


The Road We Chose 


Clista Heintzman


When I became a Christian, I knew the seriousness of my decision, and I understood the commitment I was making.  I had been taught the scriptures and had memorized many of them.  Over the years, the knowledge of those scriptures has been a comfort and help in many situations.


Today, I still feel blessed to be a part of God’s family and continue to try to live the Christian life, but the road has not been easy.  Living for Christ can be difficult because we have much opposition.  Have you ever tried to swim upstream against a current or to walk into a strong wind?  Do you remember the effort it took on your part?  Maybe you can remember being frustrated and tired.  You probably had to fight to overcome the power of the wind or current.  Living the Christian life can be this way.  It is not this way every minute of our lives because we would not be able to bear it, and we know that we will not be tempted above what we can bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13)  Be aware, however, that times will come when Satan will test and tempt you severely.  Jesus, himself, experienced these times.  Remember his encounter with the devil in the wilderness?


I can remember a time in the past when I was tempted to quit the faith!  Since the day of my baptism, I had never felt such despair.  Confusion filled my mind.  I asked God why so many things were happening at this time of which I could not make sense.  You see, Satan was at work!  I had a conversation one day with my mother.  I did not give her specific details about my problems, but I talked to her about being tired, spiritually.  I was tired of fighting and tired of always having to “go against the grain.”  Nothing seemed easy.  At that time, I really wanted to quit! How much easier it would be to let things go, stay away from people and their problems,  and let the kids do whatever the other kids are doing at school.  Life would be so much easier!  My mother looked at me and said, “Clista, if you quit, you will miss heaven.”  Mothers are like that.  They “give it to you straight.”  I began to think of the scriptures I had learned growing up.  I thought of the broad road and the narrow road.  I remembered that Jesus said the narrow road would be difficult and that there would not be very many people taking that road.  I reasoned, then, that the broad road would be the easy road and because of that, many would decide to travel on it in this life.  The story of Lazarus and the rich man came to mind, and I thought of how the Lord said, “…Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented (Luke 16:25).” I considered how these words could be applied not only to food and riches, but also to suffering now on the hard, narrow road and then enjoying good things eternally versus taking the broad, easy road now and suffering evil things eternally.


Many years ago, I chose to take the narrow, difficult road.  If you are a Christian woman, then that is the road you chose also.  It is difficult.  It takes much effort, and the decision to take this road requires a fight—a fight that will last our earthly lifetime.  Paul reminds us of this in Ephesians 6:12.  He says we wrestle against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness.  In other words, we fight against unholy ideals and activities and false doctrines in this life whether it be from rulers or the people around us.  We are weak, though, and our strength sometimes fails.  How can we fight these things throughout life without quitting?  Verses 13-18 of Ephesians 6 says that by putting on the whole armor of God and by prayer we can overcome and succeed.


If you are weary and discouraged and on the verge of quitting the faith or have already decided to quit, remember the road you chose.  Recall the scriptures you have read and learned, and consider the advice I received.  If you quit, you will miss heaven. –3049 Tyler Highway, Sistersville, WV 26175.


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