Count the cost!

     In Luke's gospel, chapter 10:57-62, three individuals encounter Christ and desire to follow Him. It may strike some as strange, but Jesus seems to discourage them instead of gathering them in. The first man declared his willingness to follow Christ wherever He went. Jesus replied that animals and birds had better sleeping conditions than He did. Jesus called to the second individual to follow Him. This man replied that he had to bury his father first. Jesus told him to let the dead bury the dead, his business was to proclaim the kingdom of God! The third also desired to follow, but first wanted to say good-by to family. Jesus' answer to him seems to imply that this individual's heart was still on earthly things.
     There are many individuals like the first one. They profess a desire to seve Christ. They say they will go anywhere, and do anything that He desires, but they fail to perceive what it really means to follow Christ. Jesus told His disciples that He would be arrested, mistreated and killed, but He would rise on the third day. He then told them that whoever would follow Him must likewise deny himself, take up his cross and follow Him. There can be nocompromise. To keep silent to save our lives or reputation is to be ashamed of Christ, and if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us! Many, like Peter, are quick to say "I will suffer for Christ, even to the point of death", but Peter found himself denying Christ when faced with danger.
     The cost of following Christ is great. To follow Him will cost us everything. We are not our own. All that we have, all that we are, belong to Him. Those who live for Him will find themselves faced with choices between family, friends, money, possessions, time, jobs,etc, daily. Many think that they can add a relationship with Christ to their already busy lives. They allow their interests to dictate their Christianity, when in reality our commitment to Christ must dictate our daily lives.
     Jesus said to count the cost. He wants us to understand what it means to truly follow Him. To follow Him will bring persecution, even death. Are we willing? To follow Him may mean the loss of family or friends. He calls us to proclaim His kingdom; are we willing to be a witness? The Christian life is one of pouring ourselves into the lives of others. Do we want to do this? Christ will lead us down paths that run contrary to the world. He will lead us into situations where we have no one to turn to but Him. Will we still follow? He calls us to give up sin. Many professed believers cling to "habits" that they know are wrong, claiming that it is to hard to give up, they just can't do it. If a small habit keeps you bound, how can you say you would be willing to die for Christ?
     Those who will count the cost, and make the firm decision to follow Jesus, will find that His grace is sufficient for each and every situation He leads us through. There is no trial or temptation that is too much for the one who firmly trusts in Christ.
     He says to you "Follow Me!"

Be reconciled to your brother.

     Our relationship with God, and our relationship with our fellow man are inseparable. How we relate to God will affect how we relate to one another, and how we treat our fellow man will impact the relationship we have with God.
     The world operates on a selfish principle. People are looking out for number one, ignoring the needs around them, and stepping on each other as they climb to the top. People get hurt and offended all the time, and the offenders shrug it off.
     Jesus introduces a different principle however. It is based on love. Love to God, and love to our fellow man. Love is not self seeking, instead it looks out for others even to the expense of ourselves. We are taught in the scriptures to forgive those who offend us, even as Christ has forgiven us. An unforgiving attitude puts our relationship with God in jeopardy. If we will not forgive, He will not forgive (Matt 6:14,15). Jesus also teaches us to go when we have wronged someone, and make it right (Matt 5:23,24). A heart that has been humbled by the love and mercy of God will see that we can do no less. If I have offended someone by unkind words, and then felt convicted and confessed it to God, but went no further, how would that look? What would the offended party think if I told them "It's ok, God forgave me." but I never offered them an apology? Instead Jesus says to go and be reconciled. Do it quickly! It is a priority. Even if you are on the way to worship God, go first to your offended brother, then come back and worship.
     It is a proud heart that will not go and admit we are wrong. Pride will keep us from a heartfelt apology. Pride will also destroy the fellowship we have with God. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
     Our relationship with God requires that we confess our sins to Him. Likewise our relationships with each other require the same. Without this, a relationship might continue, patched up a little, but the trust is gone. For a true reconciliation to occur, confession and restitution are vital. Even if the other person chooses not to forgive us, we have done what we could in a true spirit of humility, and God knows.

Repentance and restitution.

     Under the Old Testament law, a person who had obtained property dishonestly had to make full restitution with interest to the owner, on the day he came to present his guilt offering to the priest (Lev 6:1-7). A sacrifice offered without restitution being made would not be acceptable to God. In the account of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9) we see the spirit of this law, as Zacchaeus freely determines to restore what he had dishonestly taken from others.
     The truth is, a thief who will not restore what he has taken is a thief still. No amount of sorrow or resolve to no longer steal changes this fact. This shows that the repentance is only superficial. A truly broken heart not only sees that God has been offended, but also recognizes how sin affects others, and will be quick to do what is in its power to make things right. To refuse to make proper restitution shows that the heart is still selfish.
     When Zacchaeus encountered Christ, he at once, with a willing heart determined to make things right. Jesus recognized this as proof that he had truly repented, and entered the kingdom of God.

True repentance is sincere.

     True repentance is sincere. It flows out of a heart that has been broken by the realization of how ugly our sin is in the sight of God. It was this realization that caused David to say "Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (Psalm 51:4). A true penitent means it when confession is made. Often we see people apologize half heartedly. This is especially true when we see parents trying to get their children to apologize to each other. Too often we do our children a diservice when we settle for a coerced apology that we can see is insincere.
     A heart that is truly sorry for the sin it has commited will make a full confession to God. It will hold nothing back. One who is truly sorry for sin will not make excuses for sin either. It can see the depth of it's wickedness, and will take full responsibility for it. An individual who makes excuses is an individual who has not reached the end of himself. He is still trying to justify his actions, and is unable to receive the grace of God. Such a one shows that self is still on the throne of his life.
     Along with the full blame, a truly repentant individual will see that any punishment is deserved. God is just, and a repentant person will see Him as just, and will see that his sin deserves punishment. To think that hell, or any punishment is unfair is to make God out to be unfair. This can be seen in David's psalm of confession (Psalm 51:4) and also Daniel's prayer of repentance (Daniel 9:4-19).
     While it is true that God urges us to repent, and the bible warns us of the consequences if we do not repent, yet repentance must be a free act. It can not be forced. It must flow freely out of a heart that desires to return to God. It flows out of a heart that desires to forsake sin because it grieves God. Anything forced has elements of insincerity, and selfishness in it.
   A godly sorrow will produce a true repentance that leads to life, while the sorrow of the world will only produce a false repentance, leaving one with a false hope.

The two kinds of sorrow.

     The Apostle Paul teaches us some very important things regarding repentance, in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11. In this passage he speaks of two kinds of sorrow. There is Godly sorrow that leads to repentance and salvation, and the sorrow of the world that leads to death. It is vital to our salvation that we understand the difference between these two kinds of sorrow, and make sure that we have truly repented in the right way, for the right reasons. As sinful beings, we have all lived life for ourselves,without regard to God and His word. This rebellion deserves God's wrath, and will incur it, unless one submits to Christ by faith.
     There are also the natural consequences to our actions. A person convicted of criminal activity may face prison time. Marriages and families are destroyed by substance abuse, adultery, and the pursuit of things. There is also public disgrace to be faced when sinful actions come to light.
     Many individuals when caught in their sin will look at these consequences with dread. They may fear public disgrace, they may fear prison time, the loss of family, a spouse, a job. They see that their life is a mess that they need to get out of. The fear of hell and eternal punishment is perhaps the greatest motivating factor of all. Hearing the gospel, with it's call to repent, many give up their sin and ask for God's mercy, hoping to escape the consequences of their sin. They are sorry about being caught, they are sorry about the mess they are in, but they are not sorry!
     Think of a husband who said something that hurt his wife. She is now cold and silent. After awhile he is tired of this, and decides to tell her he is sorry. He goes out and gets flowers and gives them to her with an apology, hoping that she will now talk to him, that things will be back to normal. He is sorry for the consequences of his action, but not sorry for how he treated his wife. Anyone who has ever gone through something like this knows that his wife can see right through a phony apology like this, and the problem does not get fixed, it only grows worse.
     Likewise, we all have grieved and hurt God by our sinful actions, that flow out of a sinful heart. A sinful heart is a selfish heart that cares nothing for God and His word. A true Godly sorrow is a sorrow that grieves at the pain we have caused God. A true confession of sin looks at what we have done to God, and humbly apologizes to Him for what we have done to Him. We repent for His sake, not for what we can get out of the deal. To repent, and submit to Christ so we can escape some consequence of sin, is to make Christ a servant of our selfish interests. A true penitent is thinking of how God has been mistreated and desires to forsake sin and serve Him, for His sake, not wanting to grieve Him any longer. Christ said we must lose ourselves for His sake. God will graciously forgive all those who come to Him with a sincere heart. It is the broken and contrite heart that will find acceptance at the cross.
    
   

Poor life choices, or sin?

     Then Nathan said to David "You are the man!"
      -2 Sam 12:7


     Through the encounter of Nathan the prophet with David, after his sin with Bathseba, we have in the sacred record God's view of sin.
     1. David's sin displeased the Lord.
          In the previous chapter we have the account of David and Bathseba. He saw her bathing, desired her, had her brought to him and commited adultery with her. When she conceived he then tried to hide the truth from her husband. When his attempts at manipulating the circumstances failed, he had Uriah killed in battle. David had managed to cover up his sin from those around him, but he could not hide it from God. We are not told that God was not shocked, we are not told that God was not surprised, we are not told that God understood David's poor choices. We are told that God was displeased (11:27) God did not overlook this sin, in fact the consequences that David bore show us how much this sin angered God.
     2. David's sin was a gross injustice in the eyes of the Lord.
           Nathan the prophet confronted David with a story of a rich man who commited an act of injustice against a poor man. The poor man owned a lamb that ate with him and his children. In fact he treated it as one would treat a child. One day the rich man who owned many flocks of sheep had a visitor. He took the poor man's lamb, killed it and served it to his visitor. Hearing this, David was outraged at the injustice of it. Nathan then replied "You are the Man!". David stood self condemned. He knew he had acted in a similar manner. Even more however, God saw the injustice of David's sin. David was the king of Israel. He was a wealthy man. He also had several wives. On the other hand, Bathseba was the wife of Uriah. Uriah was a soldier who was loyal to David. It breaks one's heart to read of his loyalty, as David tried to deceive him (11:6-15).
     3. David's sin showed an ungrateful spirit.
          " I annointed you King over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more." (vs 7,8). This does not sound like the God who is too big to be hurt by our wrong choices. David had been blessed by God, yet his sin showed a dissatisfaction with all that God had given him. Most of us can relate to this. At one time or another we have all done something nice for someone, given someone a nice gift, given a compliment, but received no thanks. Maybe the individual was even indifferent, or rude, and our feelings were hurt. Make no mistake about it. God is hurt by our sin!
     4. David despised the word of the Lord. (vs 9).
          One can read through the Psalms and see the love that David had for the word of God. David treasured the Word more than gold and silver. His love for the word led him to obey it with a whole hearted passion. Yet something had happened to David's love for the word. His actions betrayed his heart. The word of God meant nothing to him now.
     5. David despised the Lord (vs 10).
          David's one desire was to dwell in the presence of the Lord all of his days (Psalm 27:4). He loved the Lord deeply. His Psalms are filled with worship, adoration, commitment, trust. Now God said "You despised Me!". That is what sin is. It is selfish attitude of the heart that does not submit to God, an attitude that does not care about serving God, does not care about pleasing Him. Many people say that they love God, but actions speak louder than words.
      6. David's sin brought reproach on the Lord (vs 14).
           The eyes of the world are on Christians. Others can see through a facade. When someone claims to be a Christian, but walks in the world, it turns people off. It causes others to ridicule christianity, to ridicule Christ. There is a verse in Hebrews that states we crucify christ all over again, putting Him to an open shame, when we walk away from Him (Heb 6:6).
     David repented of his sin, and God forgave him. However the tragic consequences of this sin followed him for the rest of his life. It not only affected him, but also his family, and even the nation of Israel. It is a common thing today, to hear people downplay sin. Sin is referred to as mistakes, wrong choices, poor life choices. Many people believe that God has created them the way they are. Individuals go to altar calls wanting God to fix their "mistakes", wanting forgiveness for "poor choices". It is true that God is a forgiving merciful God, but we need to rightly understand what sin really is. Only when we truly see how sin offends God, and how deep it runs in our heart can we truly repent of it and find grace.
  

Getting comfortable in the world.

     The story of the call of Abram holds some valuable lessons for us today. Genesis 11:25-32 records the  history of Abram's family, and also the fact that they left Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Caanan. There are several facts mentioned that are very important to the narrative. We are shown that Abram had a brother named Haran who had died while Terah, his father was living. We also see that at some point in their journey they stopped and settled in Haran, where Terah eventually dies.
     Genesis Chapter 12 starts with a call to Abram to leave His country, people and Father's houshold, to go to the land that God would show Him. Some translations of the Bible such as the KJV, and NIV put this call in the past tense-"The Lord had said to Abram" , implying that this call had come before they left Ur and travelled as far as Haran. This is the way that Stephen tells it in his speech before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:2-4. Verse 4 records that after his father died, God then sent  him on his way again, a repeat of the call.
     Without trying to read too much into the text, it seems that At Abram's call, Terah decided to pack up everyone and come along. More than likely filled with grief at the loss of Haran his son, he might have thought a change would be good. His heart, not in the journey however, he soon stopped his family and settled where they were, naming that place after his son Haran. The family settled down, comfortable where they were, Abram's call was on pause. It would take the death of his father Terah, before God would say once again "Abram!"
     Reading this story brought to mind many of the New Testament scriptures dealing with the cost of Being a disciple of Christ. The verses on self denial and cross bearing, the verses that state we cannot love father or mother more than Christ. Verses that speak of leaving all for the sake of the gospel. A man wanted to follow Christ after he buried his father. Jesus reply was to let the dead bury the dead. Many people desire to follow Christ, and many begin. However they fail to count the cost. Oswald Chambers, in the classic devotional "My utmost for His Highest" writes that our obedience to Christ will cost others. It will affect family and friends close to us. They will try to persuade us down a different road. I can think of examples of individuals who gave up scolarships to a Christian College due to parental pressure, parents unwilling to see their children enter the mission field, or full time ministry. Many individuals take a stand for Christ but give in to pressure placed on them by unbelieving spouses or parents. Jesus made it clear that it would cost us all to follow Him. A relationship with Him would indeed divide families. When told that His Mother and Brothers were looking for Him He replied "Who are my Mother and Brothers? Those who do the will of My Father." While we love family, and hold friends dear, spiritual bonds must be stronger than natural bonds.
     The call of Abram was threatened and put on hold by Family and sentiment, and no doubt this has happened to countless others down through history. We can learn much by the examples given to us in scripture. When called by God once more, Abram got up and obeyed! So must we, no matter the cost.

Repentance.

     Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here He stayed and many people came to Him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." And in that place many believed in Jesus.
     -John 10:40-42 (NIV)

     The conflict between Jesus and the religious teachers of His day is a theme that runs throughout the four gospels. These individuals opposed Christ at every turn. They found fault with all He taught, and all He did. They were offended by the miracles that He performed, and by the love that He showed to others.
     These teachers, the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, claimed to know and serve God, yet when God in the flesh lived and taught among them, they could not see Him. They rejected Him time and time again, all the while claiming to know and serve God.
     The downfall of these individuals was their pride. They placed great emphasis on externals, how they appeared to others. They loved the praises of men rather than the praise of God. They interpreted the scriptures the way they wanted to, worshiped the way they wanted to, in effect they were serving a God of their own invention. Jesus said that faith was impossible to them due to their pride (John 5:44). Their unwillingness to yield obedience to the word of God kept them from knowing the truth (John 7:16).
     God is opposed to the proud (James 4:6). Pride shuts us out from the kingdom of God. This pride is the attitude of the heart that says I am in control. I will do whatever I want to no matter if it is right or not. I do not care if my actions hurt God or anyone else. This pride places us in the position of God. We are on the throne of our lives instead of Him. In short, we have become gods. The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, refusing to submit to Him (Romans 8:7). Pride is the dividing wall that keeps us from knowing God, from experiencing intimate fellowship with Him. A proud person may be a religious person like the Pharisees, going to church, looking good on the outside, thinking that they know and love God. In reality they are steeped in unbelief, faith being impossible to them.
     In Greek, the original language of the New Testament, a picture is painted of God lining up in battle formation against the proud in heart. Make no mistake about it! To be in rebellion against God is a very serious matter. God stands opposed to such people. The proud cannot expect grace, mercy, or forgiveness. God is lined up against them in battle formation, waiting for the day of His wrath. Right now He is patient, not willing that any should perish, but desiring that all would come to REPENTANCE (2 Peter 3:9).
     God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.(James 4:7-10 NIV). The first thing that God requires of each one of us is to repent. This is a theme found throughout the scriptures, Old Testament and New. The message of the old prophets was one of repentance. John the Baptist came preaching a message of repentance. Jesus began to preach saying "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand!". Repentance was the message of the Apostles as they began to testify of the risen Christ. There is no getting around it, repentance and saving faith are linked. One cannot exist without the other.
     The scriptures show us on one hand that repentance is a gift of God, and I believe that it is true, just as I also believe that faith is a gift as well. I believe that through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, one is brought to a place where he sees himself as God sees him. He sees the depth and ugliness of his sin, and can see that God's justice demands his punishment. God has been offended by acts of rebellion. Acts that have flowed out of a heart that is set against Him. The Holy spirit is able to bring this home to a person's heart with powerful conviction. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" (Psalm 33:3-5 NIV). When David commited adultery with Bathsheba, he covered it up as best he could for a long time. All the while he was racked with a guilty concience. This psalm shows that it was in fact God who was convicting him of his sin, trying to get him to a place of confessing it and forsaking it, so that he could receive mercy.
     David was brought to the place where he did grieve over his sin. He recognized that his sin had offended God. (Psalm 51:4). He made no excuses (vs 4), and cast himself on the mercy of God. In verse 17 he states that what God desires is a broken and contrite heart. The Hebrew word for broken speaks of being ground up, pulverized. Absolutely crushed when we come to the knowledge of how our sin looks in the eyes of a holy God. Grieved at the thought of how we have offended Him. Grieved to the point of turning from our sin, never wanting to commit it again. Repentance is a total change of direction. My old pastor when I was a child used the example of an about face. A complete turning around. A broken, contrite heart no longer wants to live in rebellion to God. A Godly sorrow leads to a total change (2Cor 7:10)
     While God grants us repentance as a gift, it is also true that we must exercise it. God will not repent for us, just as He does not believe for us. It is up to us to repent, to turn from sin to serving God. To turn from rebellion to submission. To turn from unbelief to belief, from pride to humility.  God gives grace to the humble. While salvation is a gift of God, unmerited by anything that we can do ourselves, it is only to those who with a broken heart humbly confess and forsake sin, that God offers His mercy. To request forgiveness, while remaining impenitent, still holding on to our sin, is nothing but selfishness. We may be concerned about our future, may be afraid of God's wrath, but yet still desire to be in control of our lives. This choice still leaves us dead in sin, rebels against god Himself. Those who have been moved by a Godly sorrow find peace and new life in God. Their hearts have been purified by faith in Christ.
     John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Christ. The message he proclaimed was one of repentance. He told the crowds to bear the fruit of repentance. If there was no good fruit produced, destruction was the inevitable consequence. When Jesus returned to this region, where John had been baptizing, we see that people believed in Him there. Unlike the stubborn Pharisees who held on to their sin, these individuals had heard the message of John the Baptist, repented of their sin, and when they encountered Christ, they placed their faith in Him.
     The love of God for fallen humanity was shown to the world by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as He went to the cross and died for our sin. He has done this that all may be set free from sin. forgiven, and set free from slavery to sin, free to live as God intends us to live. Free to serve Him instead of living for ourselves. The offer is given to all who will repent and trust in Christ.













  

The narrow road.

     Enter through the narow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7:13,14 (NIV)

     Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdome of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matt 7:22 (NIV)

     The scriptures contain warnings that we do well to heed. Unlike the easy belief, easy Christianity, that so many profess, Jesus makes it very clear that it is a hard road. Many people claim to be Christians, they may have said a prayer, they say they believe in Christ, they believe He died for them, and trust Him to forgive them. Jesus said that many are on the broad road to destruction. There are many who believe that they are on the way to heaven, but in reality they are decieved. Jesus is not speaking about individuals who have no interest in spiritual things, people who just do not care at all about God, or deny His existence; He is speaking about people who actually believe they know Him, people who think they are saved. The broad road is full of individuals who think they are ok, when in reality they are not!
      In the same text Jesus tells us to watch out for false prophets. They look good and sound good, and deceive many with a gospel that is no gospel at all. Many teachers today teach a salvation that requires no repentance, no surrender to the Lordship of Christ, no life of obedience to the word of God. They preach the gospel but deny its power to transform a life from sin to holiness. Universalism runs rampant within Christian teaching. Pastors, Authors, and many within the Christian music industry embrace it, leading many astray with the false hope that no matter how we live today, God is too loving to send anyone to an eternal punishment.
     Like the gnostics of old who denied responsibility for their sin, many today claim that we cannot help being the way we are, God loves us and accepts us just as we are. In reality however, sin is sin! Human nature stands in rebellion to God and His word. The acts of sin that are commited flow out of a heart that is spiritually dead. No amount of counseling, self help, or psychology, can deal with the true issue at hand.
     The road to life is narrow, and few find it. The gate is small. Jesus began to preach the kingdom of God saying "Repent!"  We must give up our sin. It is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit to show us the depth of our sin. to show us the rebellion that lies within our hearts.Saving faith and repentance are linked. You cannot have one without the other. Jesus calls us to forsake all to follow Him. There are no half hearted commitments. We cannot pick and choose the areas of our lives that we give to Him, and then hold something back for ourselves. It is all or nothing.
     The Christian road is a road of trials. Too many people believe that when they come to Christ life becomes easy. The scriptures show us the opposite. Trials will come to shape us, too help us grow in our Christian walk. Persecution will come as we proclaim Christ. Our testimony in word and deed will offend and invite the ridicule of those around us. The Christian faces spiritual battles. Temptation is a very real thing, but instead of giving in time after time, the true Christian is one who overcomes by faith.
     Jesus stated that many will claim Him as Lord. They will claim great spiritual exploits as proof of their Christianity, but what it comes down to is this; they were only living for themselves! He does not know them! He says that the one who has eternal life is the one that does the will of God! The true Christian no longer lives for himself. Christ is who we now love with all our heart. Our lives are spent living for Him, advancing His kingdom. He surpasses everything that we hold dear. Nothing else matters but Him.
     Salvation not only is a gift of God, but it is also a work of God within our hearts. The truly saved will show it by the way they live. A saved soul is a transformed soul. There is no way around it. Do not be decieved!