Why do we need to deny ourselves and carry our cross each day? It wasn’t always this way. In the Garden, in the original paradise that God created, it was all about life. There was no road of self denial, no cross to carry. God told man he was “free to eat from any tree in the garden” except the one that was the doorway to sin and death. Nothing was off limits other than the poison tree. And in the life to come, there is no call to death, either. God will wipe away every tear. People will be able to eat from the Tree of Life without limit.

But in this world, since sin entered the picture, we have a fallen nature that must die. There is no dressing up this flawed nature! The Pharisees tried to do that, cleaning the outside of the cup while inside it was filthy, as Jesus says. The whole cup must die. Only then we can receive a new nature that will live forever.

So heaven issues two calls to mankind: to deny ourselves, and to embrace the life that God has for us. Paul tells us to behold “the kindness AND the severity of the Lord.” An eagle will only fly with two strong wings, and in this life, we will only experience a mature Christian walk if we practice the call to life and death. We need both. Satan knows this, and will therefore work very hard to keep us away from this balance.

Used with permission by:

FreshBread

Hayden Andrews