Count the Cost

Do you understand what it means to follow God? Do you understand the price you may have to pay?

"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.'

"Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace" (Luke 14:28-32 [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
[29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
[30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
[31] 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?
[32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

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These words, spoken by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, have lost none of their meaning or importance. It's easy to read right over them and not really grasp what is being said. After all, we live in an age of relative peace and religious tolerance. What kind of cost do we have to count, anyway? So many mainstream Christians believe that simply accepting Jesus as their Savior will guarantee them a place in God's Kingdom. But there is so much more to it than that.

First, we must realize that we cannot look back. Jesus pointedly states, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
See All...). Once we put our hand to the plow and decide to follow the way God has intended for us since the beginning of time, we are simply not allowed to turn our backs on the path He has set for us.

Accepting the invitation to join God's family is a serious commitment, not something that can be thrown aside and then picked back up. And we're certainly not allowed to sit around and "go with the flow." The church of Laodicea was reprimanded for this by Christ: "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 3:16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
See All...). We must constantly move forward along the straight and narrow path that we're traveling—loafing is not an option.

Once we have set our hand to the plow (begun living God’s way), it is important to realize that we are by no means on Easy Street. This is where it gets tough. Satan does not want our path to be an easy one and will do all in his power to discourage us.

In Luke 22:31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
See All..., we are shown Satan's intentions toward one of the disciples: "And the Lord [Jesus] said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.’" Our adversary will not give up without a fight. He even attempted (and failed) to lead Jesus Himself astray (Matthew 4:1-11 [1] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
[2] And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
[3] And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
[4] But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
[5] Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
[6] And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
[7] Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
[8] Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
[9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
[10] Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
[11] Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

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Trials will come

The trials we face may be tough. Jesus even said, "You will be hated by all for My name's sake" (Matthew 10:22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
See All...). This point was reinforced by Christ when He described the signs of the end times: "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake" (Matthew 24:9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
See All...). So there may be a point where we may have to put our very lives on the line for what we believe.

There are also other things that are expected of us (no one ever said this would be a cakewalk—take a look at Matthew 7:13-14 [13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

See All...). We are told by Jesus, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate [love less by comparison] his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26If 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.
See All..., emphasis added throughout). In short, God must be at the top of our list—not thrown in somewhere between homework and video games. We have to value this calling above our very lives.

In Luke 14:27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
See All..., Jesus sets a high standard telling us, "Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." I didn't really grasp the significance of this until I heard a sermon given by Gary Petty at a winter weekend. He pointed out that the cross was not just a heavy burden. When someone was carrying his cross in Roman times, as did Jesus, he was going to get nailed to and die on it.

This isn't something we get to put down—it's a lifetime commitment. Would we be willing to die for our beliefs, as did the countless martyrs before us? Would you be willing to put your life on the line and lose it for God?

Asaph’s question

This may seem overwhelming because following God's way is no simple task. And maybe you've looked around and seen others, doing the exact opposite of what God tells us to do, and prospering in spite of it. Why bother to go through all this hard work when it seems we can simply disobey God and prosper?

Asaph asked the same question in Psalm 73: "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men... Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence" (Psalm 73:2-5 [2] But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
[3] For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
[4] For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
[5] They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

See All..., 12-13).

No doubt you and I have thought the same thing—trying to understand how such bounty could come from such a sinful lifestyle. But as Asaph continues, we see that this way of life does not work. He "went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image" (verses 17-20).

We see that no good comes from this sinful lifestyle—all those who pursue it will be "brought to desolation." There is no shortcut, no easy way out of the path we are on.

Why bother?

So now that we know what the cost of doing things God's way is—what's expected of us—the natural question to ask is, "Why bother?" It's human nature to want to know "What's in it for me?" Well, there's plenty in it for us—infinitely more than we could ever deserve. Paul puts the cost of following God in perspective in his epistle to the Roman church when he stated, "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
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Even the hardest trial that we may face in this lifetime is not worthy of comparison to what's awaiting us. In I Corinthians 9:24 we are admonished to strive toward this goal: "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. " We're being encouraged here to do our utmost to run the course set before us to the best of our ability.

But again, what is this prize we are striving for? Jesus Christ tells us, "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 2:7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
See All...) and also, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 3:21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
See All...). God's ultimate goal is to give us eternal life and have us become corulers with Christ in His Kingdom. If that is not worth striving toward with all of our might, then nothing is.

Remember, God knows we're not perfect. So if we find ourselves stumbling or in need of some help from God, "We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16 [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
[16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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Now we know both the cost of following God and what awaits us at the end of the course. All that remains, then, is for you to pick up your cross and follow. There is only one more question to be asked: Are you willing? VT