The True Cost of Following Jesus

Jack and David went camping to get away from the stress of their jobs and school and life in general. They decided to take turns cooking their meals over the campfire. David had gotten up early to start breakfast and the smell of bacon and eggs had woken Jack. Jack comes out of the tent and in the clearing behind David was a bear about 50 yards away. Jack told David about the bear and David turned around to see for himself. He noticed the bear heading toward them and he turned back to tell Jack and he saw Jack pulling tennis shoes out of his backpack. David said, “Jack, you will never out run that bear. Why are you putting on tennis shoes?” Jack said, “I don’t plan on out running the bear. I plan on out running you.” So, David hit Jack in the knee with the frying pan.

You never know who your true friends are until life’s problems arise. How many of you have had fair weather friends? How many of you have been fair weathered friends? It has been said that you find out who your real friends are when you ask for help moving. Any one of you ever get a phone call in the middle of the night from someone that needed your help, either a vehicle broke down or just needing to talk? If you ever have the opportunity to be there for someone, you never know how much Jesus they will see in you.

Let’s read our scripture. Matthew 8:18-22

Over the last few weeks, we have read together. For some of us, this is a lot to ask. As we journey through the New Testament together, like we did a few years ago. I also want to do another thing that we did back then, I have asked the greeters to hand you an index card and hopefully they told you to put your name on the card. Did everyone get a card? I have asked a few people to help me with this and if they would come forward now. We are going to collect these cards, but I ask you to only put in a card, if you are willing to agree to the following guidelines. As a church, I would like for us to pray for each other. Toward the end of our service this morning, I am going to ask those that will to come and get a card. I want you to devote yourself to praying for the person on your card every day! If you have a special need and would like to put that on your card, you can find comfort in knowing that someone in your church family will be praying every day for you and your need. So, if you are willing to commit to praying for your church family, I am going to ask you to put your card in the offering plate.

This might take you out of your comfort zone, this might inspire you, but know this…Satan will try to keep you from praying for your person. Please don’t let this happen, because we need each other. As Christians we should know that sometimes God calls us to do some pretty tough things. Satan attacks us in any way he thinks that he can trip us up. Some of us have given up a lot to follow God. And I would like to share a few things that following Jesus might cost you.

1. It can cost you your home.

1. Matthew 8:20

2. Matthew 6:24

Now when I say that it can cost you your home, I am not saying that God will say, “Wes and Rosa, sell your home and have nowhere to live.” It is more like, if I need you to go to California and be my voice in the desert, then we go.

I have a lot of respect and admiration for pastors that pick up and go, when God calls them to take on a church in a state or city a long way from their families. Kevin and Nancy Cummins, Bob Hendrix, Donnie, and many others have had to put complete trust in God and it cost them their home.

When our church brought in Kevin and Nancy, our church was doing okay. We started to grow and we built this beautiful sanctuary. Things were good at the Granby First Church of God. Our numbers were up, our giving was up and the church was able to help Kevin and Nancy with a housing allowance and they built a beautiful home and shortly after that God called them away. Pastor Kevin followed God and it cost him his home.

Typically, a teacher in the Law held a position of authority and they were well educated. They had followers or disciples and these disciples would most likely take care of the needs of the teacher. So, the teacher was probably rich or very well off. Pride and selfishness really took hold of the teacher of the law and he couldn’t give up his lifestyle to follow Jesus.

So, when the teacher tells Jesus, that he will follow Jesus where ever He goes; he is a lot like us and it was more like I will follow you as long as you don’t ask me to get out of my comfort zone. Foxes have dens and birds have nests (both have homes) But the Son of Man has no place to lay His head. Jesus did not own silly earthly possessions, like a home.

There are many things that we hold on to that could keep us from following Jesus. Sometimes it could be our traditions at church. Sometimes it could be the bible that we use. The Pharisees held on to tradition so tightly they rejected Jesus.

But seriously not only can it cost you your home, but point number 2 tells us…

2. It can cost you your friends.

1. Matthew 10:22

2. Matthew 5:10-12

This one truly shows the craftiness of the Devil. When I become a Christian, I should become more loving, more forgiving, more compassionate, more understanding, more helpful and more trustworthy. How in the world, can I become a better person and lose friends? How can I be less of a likeable person, when I have better qualities? Shouldn’t my friendships become stronger?

When you act like Christ, people get uncomfortable because the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sins. Conviction is not a pleasurable experience. No one wants to feel like they are guilty or what they are doing is wrong. So as the light of Christ shines through you, it shines into their darkness and their sin is exposed to them.

One thing that I have shared before is that it amazes me that proclaimed atheists have a problem with public prayer. If I am praying to something that doesn’t exist, wouldn’t you find it amusing instead of infuriating? If they don’t believe in Unicorns and I was to pray to a unicorn, would they be mad at that and try to stop me from it? Why aren’t atheist protesting the schools that are trying to teach Islam? Could it be that there isn’t conviction in unicorns or in the teaching of Islam?

Could it be that the Name Jesus Christ actually causes them to be uneasy? Could it be that the cleansing fire of the Holy Spirit is trying to clarify good and evil in their lives or is it just because you don’t find pleasure in the things that you used to find pleasure doing like you did before God changed your life? If you are truly changed by the Holy Spirit, it could (and probably will) change your whole life.

Jesus knew how difficult following Him would be and He told us about it over and over. The writers of the New Testament book told us over and over. The darkness hates the Light. Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me.

It can cost you your home, your friends and point 3

3. It can cost you your family.

Matthew 8:21-22

Matthew 10:34-39

When I think of my family, I think of those that I have great relationships with. They might be blood relatives; they might be people that are just close to me. For example, Bob Hendrix is my brother. He is not my kin. Dale, Cindy and Darrel are my kin, but they are more like my sister and brothers than my cousins. I am truly blessed when it comes to my family.

I also know that there is the other side as well. Some of you do not have great relationships with your family. Some of your relationships are strained partly because some of your families are bad and they don’t want to be around you for the same reason that people lose friends when they become Christians.

This guy’s father probably was not dead or dying. He just wasn’t willing to sacrifice the time that he had left with his father to follow Jesus. And Jesus called him out on it. When Jesus said to let the dead bury their own dead. Jesus meant for this man to concern himself with the kingdom of God and not let his family get in the way. God doesn’t want you to give up on your family because they aren’t Christian. God just doesn’t want your family to take precedence over God or your salvation.

The cost of following could be high, but I promise you, God promises you, Jesus promised you, that it will be worth it. The reward will be great. Absolutely unimaginable. Are you all in?

The Price is High