Following Jesus Is Expensive!

December 1 (Luke 9:23; Matt. 13:45, 46)
I heard what I believe is probably one of the most horrendous expositions of scripture the other day I think I have ever heard. A pastor of a local church, used Joseph’s tremendous success in Egypt to conclude if one is godly everyone will love him and he will be successful in all of life’s ventures. He told us if we just acted like Jesus people would swarm to us like they did Him. Actually, I doubt seriously if Jesus would have gotten much of a following at all if He had not healed everyone who came to Him and fed them. He actually said that himself once or twice. That pastor conveniently forgot to point out that Joseph’s own brothers sold him into bondage, his first master in Egypt had him put in a dungeon because he refused to sleep with his master’s wife behind his back, and the man he helped get out of jail conveniently forgot him for two years. That pastor apparently hasn’t read his bible as much as he claims to have read it, because he also conveniently forgot that Jesus told us if we followed him we would be persecuted, spat upon, crucified, and just generally disliked by everyone who loves this world.

I wonder why it is that great multitudes of first century saints were crucified for their faith. Oh yeah, they actually preached the gospel. They told those listening they were going to spend eternity in hell if they didn’t repent of their sins, get baptized, confess sin, confess Jesus as Lord, believe God raised Him from the dead, take up their cross daily, continue in the doctrinal teachings of the apostles, take communion, continue in fellowship, and pray together. It’s no wonder so many churches are so full. Those attending have been led to believe church attendance is the easiest way to assure themselves a front row seat in heaven.

I’ve been told often my brand of religion turns too many people off to the truth. I’ve been admonished more times than I can count that I need to be more loving if I want anyone to listen to the gospel. My response has fallen on deaf ears more often than not. But it goes something like this. I fail to understand how one can define his actions as love if he fails to tell those bound for eternity in hell they must repent of their sin and follow Jesus if they want to avoid eternity in hell. Jesus told us the world hated Him because He is not of the world. He then asked a rhetorical question, "If the world hates Me, how much more will it hate you? The title of today’s devotional is “Following Jesus is Expensive.” I truly think if more people knew the cost of following Jesus, they wouldn’t be making any pretense they were following Him.

The story of the pearl of great price says it succinctly and without stuttering. One must give up all he has to follow Jesus. Friends, loved ones, family, home, car, job, personal possessions, love of sports, family pets, everything must be given up to Jesus if one is to become His disciple. There’s no such thing as a part time, secret service disciple of Christ. Once we give them all up, God can loan them back to us to manage during this life, but until we give them all up, we cannot, we cannot, we caaaaaannoooooot become a disciple. Let’s play twenty questions. What things can you keep from God and still become a disciple? I’ll bet you got the answer to that one on the very first try.

Now go and serve your Lord and help anyone bound for hell who will listen to you understand how he can do likewise. Just please don't tell people God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their lives. Of course He loves them, but He'll still send them straight to hell when they die if they don't give up everything to follow Him. He'll still send them directly to hell when they die if they don't repent of their sin. Preach the gospel as Jesus did, not as some mealy mouthed twenty-first century heretic. Believe it or not, those whom He has divinely elected, predestined, effectually called, and regenerated actually love to hear the truth. And what's even more amazing is that they become God loving, card carrying, powerful witnessing, followers of Jesus themselves instead of pew sitting cowards who won't suffer a little discomfort or take the chance someone won't like them if they tell them about hell or how to avoid going there upon physical death. And that's God's word for us today.