Kempis and the Cross of Christ

Thomas a' Kempis has many things to say about following Christ. I will post a couple of these today. This particular quote is the first of 15 in his section titled "The Kings Highway of the Holy Cross."

To many this seems a hard saying, "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus." But it will be much harder to hear that last word, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

But those who now willingly hear and follow the word of the cross will not in the day of judgment fear the sentence of everlasting damnation. The sign of the cross will be in heaven when the Lord comes to judge. Then all those who in their lifetime conformed themselves to Christ crucified and were servants of the cross will draw near to Christ the judge with great confidence.