The Cost

Every now and again I go back to my library and pull out some books I have had for a long time and flip through them again reading various passages that I have highlighted in the past. For some reason I have always been drawn to the writings of authors and preachers of long ago that followed Christ with a unique and conspicuous passion. Men like C.S.Lewis, A.W. Tozer and Vance Havner. There is a discernable pattern in all of their writings that stirs something in my spirit. They possessed a deep conviction and belief that following Christ was not something one did in a cavalier or haphazard fashion. They were convinced that in order for His complete purposes to be accomplished in one’s life it meant complete and total sell-out to God.

Truthfully, it’s a far cry from what is sometimes promoted today. I don’t know a Pastor that hasn’t been guilty of, at times, just being thankful people are at least showing up. But what does God expect? What does He desire for us and from us? In Luke 14:27-29 Jesus made it clear following Him required two things, carrying a cross and counting the cost. Now you won’t hear a lot of this kind of preaching on TV because we have gotten a little scared at telling the whole truth about following Christ for fear the message will be received as negative and rejected. But my thinking is, how can we build a whole Kingdom on only half the truth? HERE’S YOUR WEEKLY MOMENT OF TRUTH… there is a cost in following Christ and here are three things it will cost you.

1.- YOUR OWN WILL AND AGENDA- This one scares people because they have this idea that if they surrender all they will end up on some mountain living in a cave rubbing two sticks together living as a missionary to the pygmies of New Guinea. The enemy uses this to keep people’s hearts closed to God and the truth is if He put it in your heart to do that there is no other place on earth you would rather be. But the truth is surrendering our will simply means we realize that we were not created only for ourselves but to serve and please God. In so doing we discover life has tremendous and awesome purpose. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “whoever gives up his life for me is the one who finds out what life is truly all about.”

2.- A TEMPORARY SURRENDER OF SECURITY- Following Christ will require a total trust in God even when doing so is the scariest thing you have ever done. In my last membership class a young couple joining our church expressed their fear as we talked about the covenant of tithing and what it means to God and the church. I shared with them that tithing is not about money, it’s all about the heart and it’s about trusting God as our complete and ultimate source and that when we honor him in that way we invoke his favor and provision over our lives. They trusted God and three weeks later received a reimbursement check from too much escrow they had paid. The timing of it was all God and they saw His word come to life right in front of them. God is like that. Leaps of faith are always required to release loads of favor. God said, “Prove Me.” Translation- test me and see if I won’t show up.

3. THE EASE AND COMFORT OF MEDIOCRITY- To truly follow Christ means the end of half-hearted efforts and serving Him only when its easy and convenient. It means approaching our life in Him with the same tenacity Christ approached the cross for us. His love for us compelled him to do whatever it took to redeem us from our curse. The people in this world who live by this attitude are the ones who shape the world for everyone else. OH GOD, MAKE ME ONE OF THESE.

Until next week, SELAH (think on these things)

All for Christ, J.Mark