It makes all the difference in the world how one looks at the Gospel. If one looks at it as taking away from us things that we have always prized because they are peculiar to us, it is hard; if we look at it as giving us the best possible things, it is easy. The one who says, "If I am a Christian, I shall have to give up this or that thing," can see nothing but bondage in it; while the one who knows that if he accepts Christ he receives everything worth having, sees joy and gladness in the Christian life.
The Gospel gives, instead of taking away. "God so loved the world, that He gave [-what?] His only begotten Son." (John 3:1) "Whom He has appointed heir of all things." (Hebrews 1:2)
Now, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
All that the Lord asks us to give up is our own evil way, which we try to persuade ourselves is good enough, but which the Lord says is but "filthy rags." "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
But He offers us instead His own perfection. Imagine now a poor beggar with filthy garments that will scarcely hold together, saying to his companions,
"I am invited to go to Mr. X's house; but if I go I shall certainly have to give up all these clothes of mine." "What! and go naked?" asks one. "Oh, no; he will give me a fine new suit." "Well, then," some sensible fellow would say, "you have stated the case wrong. What you ought to say is that if you go you will receive some good clothes, and instead of complaining, you ought to rejoice."
Even so the one who knows the Lord will, instead of complaining that he must give up the filthy rags of his own misdeeds, say: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:10) "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." (2 Corinthians 9:15)--Present Truth, December 17, 1896--Timeline: III-3 (Discussion with Nicodemus)--John 3:16.