With everything in life, there is a price to pay. You have probably heard there are no free lunches. While you may receive something that you didn’t pay for, rest assured someone must pay.
In Matthew 8:18 -22, Jesus is approached by a scribe who called Jesus Master, which meant teacher, then he declared his loyalty by saying he would follow Jesus anywhere. Jesus explains to him the cost of following him. He would have no permanent dwelling to rest or call home. He proclaimed that the foxes and birds have resting places, but He did not. Another disciple, which meant a learner or student, asks to be permitted to go home and bury his father. This surely sounds like a reasonable request, but Jesus sees the heart and tells him if he is to follow, he must let the dead bury the dead. Jesus saw the danger in his return home. Perhaps the sorrow of the moment would compel him to stay with family. It is probable that his mom would ask him to stay, to fulfill the role of leader of the family. We don’t know the whole story, but to avoid the temptation of turning away from Jesus, He cautions him against going home. Jesus wanted both to know that following Him meant a total commitment with no intent to retreat. Both men were like many today, they want it all, but they want it on their terms.
Matthew 8:18-22 “Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”
In Matthew 10:37-38, Jesus makes it clear that if they were to be His disciple their love for Him must be supreme to everything and everyone else. He uses the love of family which keeps so many from a full commitment. For many years we were the youth leaders in a church we helped start. During those 17 years of ministry, countless young people gave their lives to Christ, and many felt a call by God to attend a Bible college or enter some form of ministry. Several were discouraged by their parents and stayed home.
The second requirement to follow Jesus in verse 38 is to take our cross and follow Christ. When a person was condemned to die part of the sentence in addition to the punishment was to carry one’s own cross. It was exhausting, burdensome, and disgraceful. This is symbolic of what we must do as a follower of Christ. We are not to seek to please people, but Christ. We must love Jesus so much that we are willing to die rather than forsake Him.
Matthew 10:37-38 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
When a person is convicted by the Holy Spirit to do something for Christ, or not do something, it is a sin for them not to obey. When we continue to disobey, we become desensitized to the truth. After a while, it does not bother us to disobey God and we walk away from Him. Some convince themselves they are ok and continue to go to church but are apathetic. They can attend church and not be moved to change because their conscience is seared. Paul speaks of the danger of a seared conscience in I Timothy 4:1-2. A person who repeatedly exposes themselves to sin, which is evil, loses their sense of right and wrong. They determine that what is right for them is based on their own feelings. Today, to my knowledge, none of those young people that were discouraged from following what they felt God was calling them to do are still following Christ. When we don’t obey there is a price to pay.
I Timothy 4:1-2 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”
Many pray the prayer of salvation without counting the cost to follow Christ. Jesus wants all of us and it must be on His terms if we are inheriting eternal life in Heaven. Jesus offers us the gift of salvation freely, but it cost Him shame, agony, and ultimate death. He paid the price for our death, and we must be willing to pay the price to follow Him.
