The gift of salvation is free, so why do people make it sound so hard? Even Jesus said that following him was going to require sacrifice. Pastor Mike Fabarez explains the simple but important difference between justification and sanctification.
You can know something about a person, their biography, greatest achievements, famous sayings...but still be a stranger to them. Real relationships require something more. Presence. Pursuit. A genuine willingness to close the distance.
If you want to pursue a deeper relationship with God, be sure to request the book The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer.