“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
Luke 14:28
Do we ever really and truly pay a price to serve and follow our Risen Saviour? It is said that any dead fish can float downstream. Yet it takes strength, courage, and fortitude to swim upstream. It costs nothing to sit and say or do nothing; thus you reap nothing. Corruption and decay shall be thine end. (“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Gal. 6:7-8) Those who take faith in the Lord, will find as a result: a price monetarily to pay, a duty to carry his cross, sin to echew, struggles against sin, fightings without, fears within, perils on every side, troubles all around, a fight of faith, being good stewards taking care of the brethren, etc., and for that faith shall reap life eternal and for that faithful service crowns of rewards.
There is a price for truly following the Lord. (“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” II Tim. 3:12) No matter how the world paints Christianity, true blood washed and born-again saints will have some enemies of this world. This world is not our home, strangers and pilgrims are we in a dry and thirsty land. (“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” Ps. 63:1) David abode where dangers and perilous physical care attended his way. Yet the Lord delivered him out of them all. (“For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.” Ps. 54:7)
Are we willing to count the cost to serve our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Let us with faith and resolve place our eyes straight and focused upon Him who died for our sins and rose again. (“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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.” Heb. 12:1-2)