STRATFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST COLUMN
Jesus Christ never spoke of an easy religion, in which we are privileged to dictate the things we desire to do.
Instead, He taught, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33). In Matthew 16:24, Jesus again said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
It never occurs to many people, that there is a cost in our lives to be Christians according to the New Testament pattern. The modern thought is often presented that Christianity is altogether what God does for us, without any real obligation on our part. It is true that we can do nothing to earn our salvation or merit it. However, being a disciple of Christ does cost us in the sense that there are sacrifices to make, obedience to be rendered and faithfulness to be followed.
Until we are ready to sincerely obey His word, we cannot be His disciples.
Jesus said in Luke 14:27, “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
True followers of Christ give themselves completely to Christ and His will (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). But I should also be aware of what it will cost me NOT to be a Christian (again Mark 16:16). One who hesitates to become a Christian because of the cost should consider the consequences of living in sin.
It will cost him all spiritual blessings that are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). He cannot know the peace of God that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7). It costs him the satisfaction of knowing he is doing what is right in obedience (Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3, 4). It costs him the blessing of dying in the Lord and the hope of eternal life (Revelation 14:13).
You see, a person can reject Christ totally. Or he can try to obey the Lord in a way not described in the New Testament and thus reject Christ. If so, he must live always with the knowledge that he has refused to obey God according to the word He gave. It truly costs more NOT to become a Christian according the New Testament pattern.
The Lord used an earthly illustration to show the need for carefully considering the cost of following Him. He asked, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30).
Those who choose not to surrender all to Jesus should carefully weigh the outcome of such a choice. Those who choose to become Christians according to the New Testament’s description (Acts 8:35-39) need to understand that whatever the cost, it is nothing in comparison to the blessings received.
Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
If you choose to obey the Lord (1 Peter 3:21), you will be able to have the assurance of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Revelation 14:13 declares, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’” We will always be grateful to help you with your spiritual needs!
