SINGING WITH RINGO … LIVING WITH CHRIST

by Pastor Wayne Puls on September 29, 2022

One of my favorite ex-Beatle songs is Ringo Starr’s “It Don’t Come Easy,” by Ringo Starr. Do you know that one? It’s a soulful, rollicking, bluesy song, and I always enjoy singing along with Ringo on this tune. The grammar isn’t great, and the lyrics aren’t all that profound or significant; but the title reminds me of an important Christian concept.

The life we live, as Christians, is rarely easy. It’s hard, in fact, to be a disciple, and to live faithfully as a follower of Jesus. That’s not to say that we’re not blessed, or that God doesn’t provide an abundance of good things in our lives. God is good, all the time! Yet the world in which we live – and this human existence that we share – is filled with not-so-good things. Life throws many dangers in our paths, and raises many hurdles for all of us. Evil shows its face all too often in our world. Sin is a deadly part of our human nature every day. “It don’t come easy.”

We face challenging decisions and choices, as Christian people, in our own American society and right here in North Carolina. Navigating the shifts and turns of our culture, maintaining a strong moral stance in our values and beliefs, figuring out how to sincerely show love and care to the ungodly around us, making appropriate use of the internet and social media, living as 21st-centry American Christians in a way that is pleasing to Christ … these aren’t easy tasks for disciples of Jesus these days, are they? “It don’t come easy.”

Jesus never promised that the life of the Christian would be easy. He promised quite the opposite, in fact. But Jesus also promised that he would remain faithful to us, and remain present with us through it all.  He teaches us that many of this world’s disasters and hardships are only signs of this world’s end and the coming eternal kingdom of God. The Lord assures us that for those who seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness, everything else that we really need will be provided. Christ calls us all into the fellowship of his Church, in which we find friendship, support, and care for those times when “it don’t come easy.”

I’m not suggesting that we should start singing Ringo’s classic song as one of our worship songs at Hope. But bear this principle of Christian living in mind. Even when “it don’t come easy,” when we are living with Christ, we remain safe and secure in our Lord’s wonderful love.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Wayne Puls

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