03/08/2021
Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Do you want to spend eternity in heaven with God our Father? Well, discipleship and eternity with God come at an extremely high price, and there is no amount of bargaining that can reduce the cost. The price includes great hardship, suffering, and sacrifices, and will strain us beyond our natural ability. Yet, the real question isn’t whether we have the full fare, and determination, but whether we are willing to pay this price at all, because it takes everything we have.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”
Luke 14:28 ESV
So we sit down and take stock of our personal desire to be a disciple, and the cost that we perceive it will take for us to enter eternity with God, and we say to ourselves “I can do this!” At this point we have read some of God’s Word in the Old Testament, and knowing the Ten Commandments we feel that we are capable of honoring them, and we repeat to ourselves “I can do this.”... that is until we begin to live out those commandments. Once we do, we find that even loving God isn’t as simple as it sounds...
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV
The first commandment which is to love God, sounds like something that should be so easy, yet it becomes very hard when we realize that to do this will cause us to sacrifice, and this begins with giving up our own pride. Are we prepared to let go of our self-worth to love God as we should, and be recast as poor, humble, slaves, and children?
So we struggle with this, and the other commandments, and we continue reading further looking for help, where we find some, until at last we reach the gospels, and we learn about Jesus, redemption, salvation, and grace. Here we find what sounds like the easy button of faith, and we accept Jesus, and seek to become His disciple. We rejoice because this sounds like the solution to all the problems we have been having in letting go of self, that is until we reach verses that stretch us even further... to the point of breaking once more.
““If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:26 ESV
We are once more faced with a dilemma; something that seems too hard for us to overcome. How can we possibly hate these people who have loved us, and who we love so dearly? How can we sacrifice our own life... not quickly, and easily, but in horrid fashion nailed to a cross?
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:27 ESV
So thus far, in the course of seeking discipleship and eternity, we have been asked to give up much, our self, our family, our position in life, but could it be possible that this is still not enough? No, it is not enough yet; we are asked to go even further, and sell everything else we own, right down to our fine clothes, and give the money away to the poor. We are to become asked to become physically destitute.
“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.””
Luke 18:22 ESV
Certainly we are completely distraught by now, and convinced that discipleship and eternity are beyond us! Then, as we stand before Jesus we hear Him say something that bites us deeper...
“Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.””
Luke 18:24-25 ESV
And we think to ourselves “Does Jesus have no compassion for me?”, and “Is God so uncaring that he has abandoned me?” But, in fact we have been brought here by the greatest of all loves, and it is only here in this moment that we can possibly realize the depth of our sinful nature, and the manner in which we have been worshiping ourselves. Here we come to grips with the fact that we are totally unable to accomplish the goals of faith and righteousness we have set for ourselves, and that we finally accept God, and Jesus, for who they really are. Here in this valley of despair we supplant ourselves with Them, placing God above everything in our lives, and becoming a true disciple of Christ.
In this way we have come to understand that to do these things that are required of us we need help, not from a self-help book or by going to school, but directly from God, the teaching of Jesus Christ , and the understanding given us by the Holy Spirit. Here we ask, just as Peter asked, and pour out our hearts as he did, saying that we have given so much...
“Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.””
Luke 18:26-28 ESV
And, here, as disciples of Christ, we finally gain understanding, and receive the answer we have been suffering, and seeking for all along...
“And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.””
Luke 18:29-30 ESV
So where are each of us in becoming disciples, and preparing ourselves for eternity? Have we reached the point where we understand that hating our family actually means placing God, and faith above them? Do we find that letting go of our possessions is meant for those who need to remove them as stumbling blocks so that they can place God above wealth as well? Then finally, have we learned the hardest lesson of all... have we humbled ourselves sufficiently so that we can place God above self in our lives?
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for teaching us what it means to love you, and the true meaning of each commandment you have given us. We thank you for the commandments of Jesus, and His teaching that helps us to become disciples, and perfect in your eyes, but most of all we thank you for His life, death, resurrection, and ascension that conquers sin and death in us so that we can be worthy through Him to receive your good judgement, grace, and eternity. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who never abandons us, and who helps us in overcoming all obstacles to righteousness, and achieving eternity in your presence. Praised be your name for those things we are asked to surrender along the road of faith we travel. By the helping hand of your Son Jesus our load is lightened, and our burden made light enough for us to carry. Merciful are you who takes away so that we might receive in greater abundance. Here our prayers father, and help us in our unbelief as we search out our salvation. Wash us clean of sin in the blood of Jesus, and find us worthy in Him of your good judgement and an eternity with you in heaven.
“And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!””
Mark 9:23-24 ESV
Rich Forbes