People often say, " Let us not do so and so, because if you do, we shall be sorry for it afterward." But if they said, " This is not worthy of the coming, not worthy of the kingdom," there would not be the finding of sorrow but the strength of joy in giving things up, saying, " That is of the flesh, and not something that will shine in the glory."
Looking at it as a fight, how few in this day could say with Paul, "I have fought a good fight." It had been a hard struggle, but Paul's course was just finished, and he was going home. Believers now have not that abounding spring of joy at the thought of departing, saying, " Oh! I am going home joyfully, I have had nothing but fighting, and the thorough struggle makes the thought of going home a matter of rejoicing." If there is not joy, it is because we have not found the wilderness a place for the faithful fight that Paul found it.