We always talk about it or hear about it on the news... How soldiers have laid down their lives for our freedom, for our country's freedom and how grateful we are for it. But what about the cost of the freedom of our souls? The freedom of our minds? Our health? What is the cost of this?
We know that Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice and the paid the ultimate price for this - His life. It cost Him everything, but what did He gain in return?
The question I ask is this: What price are we willing to pay? Are we willing to pay any price? Are we willing to give whatever it takes, or whatever He asks of us?There are some things we are willing to give up and some things we are not willing to surrender to Him. What is it that you are unwilling to surrender? Your pride? Your fear? Your addictions? Your reputation? Your income? Your possessions? Your comfort? Your time? Your life?
There are some things that seem like they are just too costly. The Bible is very clear in Luke 14:25-34 about the counting the cost: "Anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Another verse says, "What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" Jesus paid the ultimate price for you. We must understand He didn't just die to get YOU into Heaven, He died to get HEAVEN into YOU!
All of law can be summed up in this: Love God more than anything! Are you willing to love God more than anything? See God's Kingdom is an "upside down" Kingdom: The last shall be first, the least shall be the greatest, He uses the foolish things to shame the wise, if you try to save your life, you will lose it, but if you give up your life for Him, you will save it!
One thing is clear: In the Kingdom, the reward is ALWAYS greater than the cost/sacrifice.
It is mockery of God to think that He will not reward those who pay the price.(Galatians 6:7)
We must understand the Biblical concept of reward!
(Matthew 19:27-29) Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life."
Christians in other countries clearly understand this, most Americans do not. Many Christians understand the willingness to lay down their life for Christ. Are we willing to lay down anything for Him?
So we must ask ourselves, which is more important, our comfort or His Kingdom?
Is the cost worth the reward? With God - ALWAYS!
