.png)
"So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you. For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it? Otherwise he may lay the foundation and not be able to finish. The neighbors will ridicule him, saying, ‘Look at him! He started to build but couldn’t complete it!’ " . - Luke 14:28-30 TPT
Count the cost before you ever attempt to follow God.
Oftentimes people get baptized or come to Christ without considering what it will take to actually follow Him. No one tells us that if we’ve placed our wife, kids, mom, or dad above Jesus, and are not willing to leave them, we are not worthy of being His disciple. We might have to quit our job, give up life savings, and even die for this. Are we ready for that?
Consider what Daniel went through in the lion’s den. Consider what the disciples went through — their heads were cut off, some were sawed in half.. all for the sake of Jesus Christ. Consider people in China being beat for their faith. Some people live their lives like criminals, on the run, just to follow God.
Statistics say that 13 Christians die every day for their faith (Forbes). Even as you read this article, someone is being tortured for their faith. Do we belong in heaven with these people who refuse to denounce God publicly? Do we deserve to sit at the Lord’s table with these people? Is that fair and just? God is an honest judge. He has kids that are going through absolute hell on earth. Then He has kids who are doing whatever they want. How do we really think God compares the two?
Counting the cost should be the first message that is preached before people come to Christ. Wouldn’t you consider the cost of a house before you build it? Or what it would it take to go into battle with a strong opponent? We need to take a deeper dive into what will be required for us to lose our lives and pick up Jesus’ cross. Otherwise, we'll come in with unrealistic expectations or not expecting to lose anything, and be blindsided by the general requirements.
It seems that this message isn’t preached often in America. But in other countries, people know the cost that comes with following Christ. Do we? We must look at our lives objectively. Compare our life in America to how everyone else lives in reference to our faith in God. What are we really giving up for the sake of Christ? What are we really willing to do? Are we fighting the good fight of faith or chasing the cares of this world?
Jesus says “surrender all to me.” Are we really following God if our life looks the same after choosing to follow Him? Are we living our lives doing whatever we feel like doing or actually following His will? Are we just pretending to be religious?
Study the standard of Jesus. Count the cost. Do you have what it takes to follow Him?
(A true story of a young Chinese woman facing religious persecution in China in 2010)