Counting the Cost

Anyone who considers following the Lord Jesus must first face one difficult thing: our universe is currently embroiled in an invisible but deadly battle, in which Jesus is centre. Following after him will eventually lead you and me directly into the fray. Though we cannot affect the outcome of the fight - it was decided on the cross - it can affect us. We cannot follow one who laid down his life and expect to keep our own.

This is a fact that became all too real for 23 South Korean missionaries in Afghanistan this week. They were members of a medical missions team whose bus was stopped and taken hostage by the Taliban. One of them, a pastor, was shot in the head. How many of that team sat down and calculated how much they'd be willing to risk? When it comes to that, how many of us has spent time considering how much is too much? When the enemy comes to us, and demands our life and the things we love in exchange for the glory we seek to offer our God, will we be willing to pay the price? How far will we go to avoid such an expense?

The Korean captives are going to take a lot of flak if they do make it home. Their situation has created a huge backlash against the Christian community in their home country. The world is tired of having to babysit those who play at "trusting God" but go crying to governments and political groups when things turn sour. I have no right to say that they haven't counted the cost - but have I counted it?

When I am struck a blow from the enemy, will I come running home in tears? Oh, to so discipline myself that when my life hangs on the line, I will be able to stay the urge to seek rescue from political forces and human constructs! Oh, to have so exercised my spirit that I will be empowered to quietly gather up the trappings of my life, along with national rights and privileges, to lay upon the altar of Love! God grant that I may turn my back on all that is mine; that I may remain unmoved by the shrieks and groans of squirming self when the sword is held to my throat; that, in the face of the Enemy of souls, there may for me be no resorting to any lesser refuge than the Everlasting Arms.

Great crowds were following him. He turned around and addressed them as follows:
'Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters - yes, more than his own life - otherwise he cannot be my disciple. And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me.
But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if he has enough money to pay the bills? Otherwise he might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh!
'See that fellow there?' they would mock. 'He started that building and then ran out of money before it was finished!'
Or what king would ever dream of going to war without first sitting down with his counsellors and discussing whether his army of 10,000 is strong enough to defeat the 20,000 men who are marching against him?
If the decision is negative, then while the enemy troops are still far away, he will send a truce team to discuss terms of peace. So no one can become my disciple unless he first sits down and counts his blessings - and then renounces them all for me.
What good is salt that has lost its saltiness? Flavorless salt is good for nothing - not even for fertilizer. It is worthless and must be thrown out. Listen well, if you would understand my meaning.
- Luke 14:25-34 (The Living Bible)

Great crowds were following Jesus. They went where he went; were awed by his miracles; admired his wisdom; hung on to his every word.
He is just as popular today. But what of it? The great mega-churches, the Christian magazines and concerts and faith-based governmental initiatives - what are they to him?
He knows that disciples are not simply those who follow - rather, they are people who have thought, considered, looked hard at life, and made a conscious decision.

Jesus never says, "Come with me, it's gonna be great. We'll have lots of fellowship, and we can sing great worship songs together as we go..."
Instead, he says, "You wanna follow me? Here's what it's going to cost: everything."

We have made Christianity another lifestyle choice; a political party. We've dumbed-down God's requirements to suit personalities and political leanings. The ten commandments and the tithe have become our "company policy". Jesus goes WAY beyond that. You think it's enough for him that you go to church, you're straight, and you don't get smashed on the weekends? Ha. Jesus says, "Pick up your cross or go home."

Christianity is not the social club we've presented it as. Even if you never leave the comfort of your own country, it's a high stakes game - far too dangerous for those who want a cause to espouse, a sympathetic community to participate in, a spiritual insurance program. You can get hurt if you go wandering about a battlefield. Will you give the world a reason to mock God? Will I?

As Jim Elliot says, we have "bargained for a cross". We ought to think it through.

Prayer: poem and a pondering...

I prayed for strength, and then I lost awhile
All sense of nearness, human and divine;
The love I leaned on failed and pierced my heart,
The hands I clung to loosed themselves from mine;
But while I swayed, weak, trembling, and alone,
The Everlasting Arms upheld my own.

I prayed for light; the sun went down in clouds,
The moon was darkened by a misty doubt,
The stars of heaven were dimmed by earthly fears,
And all my little candle flames burned out;
But while I sat in shadow, wrapped in night,
The face of Christ made all the darkness bright.

I prayed for peace, and dreamed of restful ease,
A slumber free from pain, a hushed repose;
Above my head the skies were black with storm,
And fiercer grew the onslaught of my foes;
But while the battle raged, and wild winds blew,
I heard His voice and perfect peace I knew.

I thank you, Lord, you were too wise to heed
My feeble prayers, and answer as I sought,
Since these rich gifts your bounty has bestowed
Have brought me more than all I asked or thought;
Giver of Good, so answer each request
With your own giving, better than my best.

- Annie Johnson Flint

When the Lord Jesus prayed in HIS agony, alone in that dark garden, he voiced the longing of his heart - "if there be any other way...". But he didn't leave it there. He bowed himself to the God of all, saying, "Nevertheless, not my will but yours".
Oh, the release in being able to do more than simply wish and hope - the rising freedom in being able to say, "Even so, father, for so it seemed good in your sight."

I, too, have tasted bitter and sweet from the hand of Yahweh. Let all who hear me know that end of the bitter is a lasting sweet. I will thank him for my bitterness! He is altogether lovely.

O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.
(Psalm 30:2,11)