Wherever you go and buy something from a store there is something that you absolutely must make sure that you have, and that is a way to pay for those things. Whether it’s cash or a credit card or some other form of payment, if you expect to come home with the things you want you must be prepared financially.
Likewise, when we become Christians, if we want to be in Heaven someday we need to make sure that we are prepared to do what is required of a Christian, counting the cost.
Luke 14:25-33 “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
When a person makes that decision to follow Jesus and give their life over to Him they need to count the cost, and realize understand what the life of a Christian is. A Christian is selfless, considerate, loving, kind, forgiving and merciful. A Christian needs to be, well, like Christ. We need to understand that, if necessary, we may have to give up certain things, even people or things which we live dearly, because our love for Jesus needs to be greater than anyone and anything else. We need to be ready to walk away from past relationships with people who we once used to be around if they are living in a manner not after Christ.
2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Do you remember the parable of the sower? After He had spoken this parable to the people, Jesus explained the meaning of it to His disciples.
Matthew 13:18-23 “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
You see how the seeds that were sown on stony ground were those who hear the Word gladly, but because of tribulations and persecution they fell away. They didn’t count the cost of the life of a Christian. Persecution is a part of the life of a Christian, as Jesus said, “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”
Have you counted the cost of the life of a Christian? Do you have what it takes?
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 