The Hill of Difficulty

I've been reading Pilgrims Progress, and there is a point in the story where Christian comes upon a hill of difficulty. He was told earlier by Evangelist that the only way to the Celestial Gate (heaven's entrance) was to follow the straight and narrow road. He is walking with two people he met along the way - Formalist and Hypocrisie - when they came upon the hill. As they stood and looked at it, the steepness and darkness of the hill intimidated them. Hypocrosie and Formalist decided to walk a different path around the hill because they did not want to suffer or be uncomfortable in their journey. Christian, however, says this:

This hill, tho high, I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend:
For I perceive the way to life lies here;
Come, pluck up, heart; lets neither faint nor fear:
Better, tho difficult, th' right way to go,
Then wrong, though easie, where the end is wo.

These words penned by Paul Bunyan have been repeating in my head since I read this. It captures what should be the attitude of a Christian. Regardless of difficulty and bleak circumstances the Christian should be eager to follow Christ because he knows his eternity will be worth "momentary afflictions."

In comparison to most of the people in the world, we, in America, hardly (if ever) truly face real affliction. I have been trying to figure out what the hill of difficulty could represent in my life. I think I have come to a conclusion on what one hill could be: material sacrifice. I have so much wealth in food, clothes, education, and stuff, that it is easy to forget I don't really need most of what I have. I could survive eating half the food I eat in one day and owning a tenth of the clothes that I own (maybe less). The whole thing I am getting at is that it's easy to avoid the hill of difficulty by just getting more and more stuff, instead giving that money I would spend on me to others who really need it: orphans, homeless, those suffering disaster (like Haiti).

Am I willing to forgo some of my needs in a sacrificial way so that I may show love to those who are really in need with the hope that they would hear the gospel and be eternally saved? Difficult? Yes...but as Christian says,

This hill, tho high, I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend:
For I perceive the way to life lies here;
Come, pluck up, heart; lets neither faint nor fear:
Better, tho difficult, th' right way to go,
Then wrong, though easie, where the end is wo.

And as Scripture says,

" Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." - Matthew 6:19-20

"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days...You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter." - James 5:1-3, 5

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be hold in all your conduct." - 1 Peter 1:13-14

"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when the speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
- 1 Peter 2:11-12

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as your share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed...Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." - 1 Peter 4:12-13, 19

May God give us the grace to walk unhindered by wealth along the straight and narrow in pursuit of Godliness as we willingly and joyfully partake in the sufferings of Christ.