Being
a true and passionate follower of Jesus holds the promise of eternal life. Something so magnanimous has a cost. As
Christians, we need to understand the cost that comes with following Christ.
Cost is always grounded in absolute truth.
Following
Jesus is not to be taken lightly or trivialized. Think about what you are doing
in your Christian walk and realize that following after Christ comes at a cost.
We must be willing to put God and His truth first... no matter what the
sacrifices or consequences may be in our lives. What does that mean... first?
Maybe
the very best answer to that question is summarized in Matthew 16:24-26... "If anyone desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 "For
whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for
My sake will find it. 26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole
world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
There
are many so called Christians who have not really considered the cost of following
Jesus. Most are only going through the motions of Christianity. They react to
emotionalism and self-serving beliefs found in the Charismatic movement, because
they believe God surely must be with such groups because of the miraculous
powers they believe they’re witnessing. It’s not about truth, it’s about what
they want... what will make them happy.
Taking
up the cross of Christ requires, trust, faith, perseverance and commitment to the
truth of the Bible. The road ahead of any Christian is cluttered with many distractions.
Many of our Lord’s’ early disciples were willing to follow Him as long as
things were going smoothly, but as soon as they couldn’t understand what he was
saying or felt challenged by truth and reality, they simply left Him.
That
is exactly what many Christians are doing today. They will follow God’s Word
until something happens in their life that makes it hard for them to follow God’s
Word. It’s usually a “truth” they can’t accept. Then they turn away from God,
because the road ahead conflicts with their own desires... the things of this world.
Living
Christian is not an easy life. The journey with Christ is not an easy road. Prepare
yourself. Discipline and focus you mind, as Peter did, on one powerful undeniable
reality... that Jesus has “words of
eternal life” and no matter what disappointments may come from this life,
we must hold fast to “those words” and follow Christ faithfully.
Jesus
himself said in John 8:31-32 says... “If
you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free."
