COUNTING THE COST “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27 Many speak about the necessity of salvation, and what is necessary in order to be saved, but the cost often is not spoken about. We see in our text that Christ says that we must bear our cross and follow Him. These words seem very hard, and why is this necessary? Is it not a joy to know the Lord? Bearing our cross does not seem very much fun to me, you say! We hear people say, “Smile, the Lord loves you!” Is this true? The Word of God says, “God is angry with the wicked every day.” There must be a forsaking of our sin and a turning unto God. In Luke 14:33 we read, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” So who is right? The Bible says, “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.” The problem is that we are so in tune with the world that we almost never think about God. We do not realize that we have sinned against a holy and a righteous God, who can in no way clear the guilty. When this becomes a burden to us then we become sad, because we have offended our Maker, and we are without God and without hope in this world. I have to meet this God, Oh, how can I ever meet Him? John Bunyan’s, Pilgrims Progress opens with Christian in the City of Destruction; we hear him cry, “My sin, my sin.” Has this ever become a burden to you? He hears from Evangelist, “Flee to the wicket gate, do not look back but go!” When sin truly becomes sin then the world becomes a hindrance and our friends cannot understand what has happened to us. The cry becomes, “I must be reconciled to God!” But how? I read in the Bible, “Love God above all, and your neighbor as your self.” Our friends say, “Come on now, you don’t have to be so strict, God knows that your not perfect, so it will be alright, don’t worry so much!” But we read again, “Be ye perfect for I am perfect.” “Oh, I’m undone I’m lost; there is no hope for me!” The Bible becomes my daily companion; “Lord what must I do to be saved,” becomes my cry! Evangelist opens the Bible and reads, “Look unto me all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none else.” Again, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give thee rest.” Oh, that’s what I need, but how can I obtain it? Hebrews 12:1-2, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” None but Jesus! I need Jesus; yes He’s the one! “Sell all that thou hast and follow me.” “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” that is His word to us. Are you ready to pay this price? Remember He said, He that endures to the end shall be saved! Salvation is free, but will cost you everything in this world. “Ye cannot serve two masters, its, either God or Satan. May He be our inheritance! Written by Cornelius Van Kempen June 30, 2010 Read my meditations and devotions at: Http://Casey4949.posthaven Or Http://Casey4949.wordpress
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 23:04:23 +0000
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