Life With a Forever Future

We don’t like sacrifice. We don’t like to give things up. We want things to go smoothly…no interruptions, no inconvenience. We like life to be easy. These things are true about me. My guess is we are alike.

There is a cost to follow Jesus. The cost? Jesus comes first…before family, friends, possessions…

 Before you turn around and go back-before you say this is too hard-consider these: we are sinners. Look at the evil around us-in us. And-then this-the greatest treasure ever known waits for us in heaven. Remember the banquet? Now, consider these two things in addition. One,Jesus died for sinners (Me/You). Two, that means the greatest expense has already been paid.

You know what? From here-the cost to follow Jesus is worth it.

Just what is the cost? Read what Jesus said in Luke 14:25-33:

“A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.”

Luke 14:25-33

Jesus leaves no doubt. There is a cost to believe in Him.

The word hate is unfiltered…strong. It the Hebrew language it is an expression for loving less. Jesus is to be our first love.

Let’s be blunt. What is the cost? Jesus said, “take up your cross”…perhaps so far in life you and I have not realized we have a “cross.” Are you ready for this? Our “cross” is to deny self. Jesus calls both of us to deny our self. Put Jesus first deny yourself…that’s taking up your cross. Let’s make this stronger-Jesus calls us to die to self will. Jesus is to come first.

Then Jesus says, “count the cost.” He gives two illustrations: building something and going to war. Before we choose to follow Jesus-count the cost. Are we willing to give up everything we own-for Jesus. Does this seem like too great a cost? It may help to remember ALL things belong to God.

 Don’t feel discouraged. Loving others less, denial of self, examining our heart to see if we are willing to pay the price for following Jesus-you and I do not do any of them alone. In fact, we cannot do this alone.

Now consider this fact: most difficult part of our salvation is done. Jesus hung on a cross for our sins. The COST to Jesus was His life!

 We don’t need to be anxious about the cost of following Jesus. Instead we bring each part of counting the cost to Jesus…

+Loving Him first

+Denying self

+Counting the cost…

Our strength to do these comes from Him!

Count the cost…and when we fail  know Jesus will forgive us. We can start again.

Count the cost.

It’s worth every effort.

Let me be blunt: We can’t count the cost alone. We can’t deny self of our ow strength.

Jesus is the way.

Jesus is the truth.

Jesus is the life!

Who comes first? Jesus!

That’s counting the cost. Call it life-with a forever future.

With confidence we lift our eyes to Jesus and say, “I’m in.”