Choosing To Follow Jesus
Luke 9:24-27
November 4, 2018
If you’ve been following along with us the last few weeks in Luke’s gospel
Then you know that we are currently in a segment that we are calling “Messianic Misconceptions”
It is a segment where Jesus is correcting some of the misconceptions
That His disciples had about the role and ministry of the Messiah.
And thus far we have seen that the biggest misconception
Was that the Messiah would come and instantly
Make all of our struggles disappear.
While Jesus will one day return and reign upon the earth and usher in total peace, that is NOT what He came to do at first.
Jesus warned the disciples NOT to go out and preach that message.
What the disciples had failed to understand is that
Jesus had come to Suffer and be Rejected and be Killed and be Raised.
Of course we know that this is essential to the salvation of man,
But the disciples did not yet know that.
The reason it was important for them to hear it now is because
JESUS WAS ABOUT TO CALL MEN TO FOLLOW HIM,
And the disciples needed to know exactly what that meant.
If your belief is that Jesus is the Messiah and that the destiny of the Messiah is comfort and riches and glory and fame then following Him is a no-brainer.
Who wouldn’t follow the king to glory and comfort?
But before Jesus would receive glory and honor and a throne,
He would first receive scorn and shame and a cross and a tomb.
And anyone who is following Him should know that first and foremost.
Perhaps that is not what the disciples had expected.
But in verse 23 (which we saw last time) Jesus laid it out for us all.
Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
They are the three requirements for everyone who would follow Jesus.
1. Self-Denial – you must disown yourself; your works and your flesh.
2. Suffering Daily – you are embracing the cross and the shame that comes with it.
3. Sacrificial Destination – The recruiting of Jesus is a recruitment to death. That is where He went, and that is where those who follow Him go.
IT IS DIRECT, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO GRASP.
But everyone must come to grips with this.
We must acknowledge that this is the requirement laid out by Jesus.
If you submitted to some lesser requirement, I’m sorry, you were lied to.
• This is what Jesus requires.
• This is what Jesus demands
Salvation requires the denial of self, the daily suffering of bearing the reproach of the cross, and the destination of our Lord,
Which was death at the hands of godless men.
There’s no way around this requirement.
You are either following or you aren’t.
We looked at that last week, and I know it’s hard to hear. In fact, I’m well aware that some probably refused to hear it.
• In some cases that seed fell on the road and Satan already took it away.
• I understand that some most likely chose to convince themselves that even though they won’t follow there, they are still saved in spite of what Jesus said.
I’m aware of that.
But I’m also aware that some no doubt had ears to hear.
• I’m aware that some were willing to deal with that verse.
• Some have internalized it and that seed is in the soil taking root.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to swallow.
And so the OBVIOUS QUESTION after such an intense statement by the Lord is this: Why would anyone submit to the requirement of Luke 9:23?
Why would anyone follow Jesus if following Him requires denying yourself, suffering daily and ultimately death?
And the answer to why they would still follow Him:
TO BE SAVED
Jesus requires this because this is the only way for man to be saved.
A few years ago one of mission teams listened to a sermon called “Ten Shekels And A Shirt”. In that sermon the preacher asked:
“Why should a person come to the cross? Why should a person embrace death with Christ? Why should a person be willing to go in identification down to the cross and into the tomb and up again? I’ll tell you why. Because it’s the only way that God can get glory out of a human being!”
We submit to this requirement because it is the requirement of salvation.
TURN TO: JEREMIAH 21:1-10
The setting here is simple.
• After God gave Israel the Promised Land, they embarked in so much idolatry and rebellion against God, that God has determined to judge Israel by removing her from the land for 70 years.
• He has raised up the nation of Babylon to come and overthrow Judah, to burn the city of Jerusalem, and to deport the survivors to Babylon that they might be taught to seek God.
• The immediate scene is that King Nebuchadnezzar is outside of the city wall and those who are holed up in the city want to know what to do.
(READ Vs. 1-2)
There’s the question.
Well, God sends an answer.
He is about to destroy the city of Jerusalem and all who dwell in it.
(READ Vs. 3-7)
And as we said, this is judgment for the sin of Judah.
• They have spurned God,
• They have broken the covenant,
• They have bowed down to other gods,
• They have committed spiritual harlotry,
• They have profaned the Sabbath,
• They have abused the poor,
AND GOD HAS HAD ENOUGH.
It is time for judgement on their sin.
Babylon is here to destroy their city and kill all who are there.
However, God is by nature a Savior.
And so God graciously gives provision for salvation
Even from this horrific judgment.
Here is the option, here is the way of salvation.
(READ Vs. 8-10)
You have a choice.
• You can choose to stay in this city, and keep your life and you will die.
• Or you can leave this city and your life, and present yourself to the King of Babylon and you will live.
• Will you be a slave? Yes
• Will you suffer hardship? Yes
• Will you have to go out in faith that God will protect you? Yes
But that is your only option for salvation.
Now, had you lived in Babylon in that day,
There is no doubt you probably would have raised your hand and said, “What about option 3?”
You know, the option where we get to keep our life here in Jerusalem,
But we don’t die with the sword, how about that option?
Now, why was that option not available?
Because they had sinned and sin requires consequences.
And when you understand that sin demands consequences
Then you understand that the offer to go
Present yourself to Babylon was actually an offer of grace.
God had every right to just kill them.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
And perhaps that story helps you understand
Why it can appear like we only have 2 bad options.
The reality is that it is only by grace that we even have this option of Christ.
• God does not owe any of us salvation through Christ.
• He only owes us judgment.
Christ however has arrived to be a way of salvation for us,
His offer is not cruel, it is an offer that provides a way to be saved.
But one thing is true.
SALVATION REQUIRES A DIFFICULT DECISION
I know we are those who believe in the sovereignty of God in regard to salvation.
We talked about it in our study of The Doctrines Of Grace.
Namely that REGENERATION is a monergisitic work.
• God must do it all.
• Man is dead in sin and incapable of choosing Christ on his own, so God must breathe life into that man.
• It is a work God does apart from any help from man.
However, the work of JUSTIFICATION is a synergistic work.
• It is a cooperative work.
• You must choose to give the faith God has granted
And we see that throughout the Scriptures
That man is commanded to choose and to choose correctly.
Jeremiah 21:8-9 “You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. “He who dwells in this city will die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence; but he who goes out and falls away to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live, and he will have his own life as booty.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,”
Joshua 24:15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
What Jesus commands here is a decision that you must make.
You must decide to deny yourself, take up your cross daily,
And follow Him.
This morning, Jesus is going to tell us
WHY WE SHOULD MAKE THAT DECISION,
Even though it is difficult.
There are 4 points to be made this morning.
#1 A DOCTRINAL TRUTH
Luke 9:24
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”
First I want to make sure that you DON’T JUST SEE THE NEGATIVE here.
What cannot be missed in this statement is that
JESUS OFFERS TO US A WAY TO BE SAVED.
“whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”
What must be acknowledged is that
God has made a way of salvation possible
And He most certainly was under no obligation to do so.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
Romans 5:7-8 “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
People in our condition ought not squabble about the means.
The fact that salvation is even available is a miracle of divine grace.
There is a way! (Hope is not lost!) And Jesus already gave us that way.
Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
Disown your life, embrace the suffering of the cross of Christ
And follow Him to the point of death and beyond.
All Jesus is doing here in verse 24 is telling you
WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE THAT WAY; why you should accept that offer.
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it”
• If you choose not to deny yourself.
• If you choose not to disown yourself.
• If you choose that you want to keep all your plans and works and treasures and not disown it all for Jesus.
Then you can do that, for a while.
But ULTIMATELY you will “lose it”
What is Jesus speaking of?
Revelation 20:11-15 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Be sure and notice that statement, “This is the second death”.
If you choose not to die to yourself here,
Then you have just solidified your appointment with the second death.
In short, you lose life eternal.
However, you do have a choice.
“but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”
And “loses his life” is another reference
To that denying of self and taking the cross and facing death.
If you will do that for Christ, then you “will save” your life.
Jesus speaks of these people too:
Revelation 20:1-6 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
There we see the phrase, “This is the first resurrection”
And “over these the second death has no power”.
See the difference?
The first reason you should follow Jesus to the cross:
BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU WILL GO TO HELL.
The fact remains, you cannot save your own life.
• You are not strong enough
• You are not wise enough
• You are not good enough
If you reject Christ’s offer and choose to keep your own life
With your own resume and your own plans you will end up in hell.
God will not accept even your best efforts.
Isaiah 64:6 “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
Paul said it like this:
Romans 8:12-14 “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Get the point?
• Only in Christ is salvation possible,
• And the cost for this salvation is to forsake this life.
• That was true of the disciples
• That was true of the Rich Young Ruler (who rejected it)
• That was true of Paul
• That is true of you and me
If you want eternal life then you must surrender this one.
That is a Doctrinal Truth
#2 A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION
Luke 9:25
“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?”
Here Jesus is simply asking you to do an appraisal.
• Look at the value.
• See what’s in it for you either way.
So, let’s say that you decide to keep what you’ve got.
Your plans – Your reputation – Your possessions
You want to keep it all, and not forsake it to follow Jesus.
BUT JESUS DOESN’T EVEN SAY THAT,
• He actually exaggerates it a little,
• For He speaks of a man who “gains the WHOLE world”
So, let’s push it even further.
• It’s not just keeping your plans, now we’re talking about fulfilling your wildest
dreams
• It’s not just keeping your reputation, now we’re talking about world-wide fame.
• It’s not just keeping your treasures, not we’re talking about “the whole world”
I mean, let’s not even evaluate losing what you’ve got,
Let’s assume that in this life you’ll get everything.
Everything you’ve dreamed of
Everything you’ve ever wanted
You obtain it all.
BUT: In the end you go to hell.
AND THE QUESTION IS: Is that worth it?
IT’S A VALUATION YOU HAVE TO DO.
Now, let me also be very clear at this point.
NO ONE says, “Yes” to that question, (at least not with their mouth.)
People who say “Yes” to that question say “No” with their actions.
They agree that all the treasure in the world is not worth going to hell,
BUT THEY STILL NEVER LEAVE their treasures.
Philippians 3:17-21 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
Those people AREN’T enemies of the cross because they verbally deny it.
They ARE enemies of the cross because they actively deny it.
All they can think about are the things of this world.
Jesus is not just asking if you know the answer to that question.
Jesus is asking you to act on the answer to that question.
Remember the Rich Young Ruler?
Matthew 19:21 “Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
There were no hypotheticals there with him and there are none with us.
Jesus DIDN’T ASK the Rich Young Ruler, “Would you say that keeping all your money is worth going to hell?” (I’m sure the man would have say no.)
Jesus simply asked the man to leave his money,
And his actions answered the question.
Either you acted on the truth or you didn’t.
• Those in Jerusalem had to leave Jerusalem and present themselves to the King of Babylon, not just agree that that was a better option.
“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?”
Matthew’s gospel adds a follow up question.
Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
We see first the same question: How much would you take to go to hell?
(Everyone says “nothing” to that question)
But the second reverses it a bit: How much would you give to stay out of hell?
That’s the question the Rich Young Ruler wouldn’t answer.
And I get it, it’s a hard decision.
Matthew 19:22-24 “But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
I agree, it’s hard to disown yourself and your flesh to follow Christ,
But don’t let the fact that it’s hard; cause you to doubt that it’s true.
THAT IS STILL WHAT IS REQUIRED.
So do you see the second reason you ought to follow Jesus?
BECAUSE SAVING THIS LIFE WON’T BE WORTH IT IN HELL
A Doctrinal Truth, A Philosophical Question
#3 AN UNAVOIDABLE REALITY
Luke 9:26
Here Jesus reminds of a coming reality.
Some at this point have chosen to change the stakes.
• Well, what if hell never happens?
• What if Jesus never returns?
• What if the judgment is a myth?
That’s how some people cope with this doctrine,
They just seek to nullify the reality of hell and say it just won’t happen.
I may not deny myself, I may not follow Jesus, I may not forsake this life,
But I don’t think God will really judge people and send them to hell.
(The people who died in the flood or the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah)
MIGHT BEG TO DIFFER WITH YOU
But none the less that is a thought.
So here Jesus reminds of AN UNAVOIDABLE REALITY.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Let me remind you of something here.
THE SON OF MAN IS COMING
And just in case you aren’t clear on WHY He is coming,
Matthew’s gospel adds a little more insight:
Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”
He’s coming to repay
Have we not read about this day?
Revelation 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
If you want to see that same day from a different perspective, here it is again:
Revelation 14:14-20 “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ” Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.”
He’s coming back and He’s coming to judge His enemies.
He’s coming to judge anyone who is “ashamed”.
But also please notice that He lists TWO AREAS OF SHAME here.
1) OF ME
“whoever is ashamed of Me”
2) OF MY WORDS
“whoever is ashamed of…My words”
THE FIRST targets those who refuse to take His reproach upon themselves.
THE SECOND targets those who refuse to take His gospel upon their lips.
Does that surprise you?
The Lord institutes the same judgment for those who refuse to proclaim His gospel as He does for those outright deny Him?
LISTEN: There are 2 ways in which you can show shame of Jesus Christ.
1. Is by not identifying with Him
2. Is by not proclaiming His truth
Both indicate shame, and both invite the judgment of the Lord.
Consider now the call of the apostles:
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
2 Timothy 1:8 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,”
2 Timothy 1:12 “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
Do you see that?
Being ashamed of Christ’s gospel
Is just as bad as being ashamed of Christ Himself.
And the main reason people refuse to preach the gospel is because preaching the gospel is costly.
• It will cost you your reputation
• It will cost you your safety
• It may even cost you your life
But you cannot claim that you are not ashamed of Christ
If you are unwilling to testify of Him.
And here Jesus reminds that all who carry that shame
Will in fact be judged when He returns.
You want another reason why you should follow Jesus?
BECAUSE JESUS WILL RETURN AND JUDGE THOSE WHO DON’T.
Plain and simple. It’s an unavoidable reality.
Matthew 24:36-44 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. “Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
A Doctrinal Truth to Accept, A Philosophical Question to Ponder
An Unavoidable Reality to Expect
#4 A CERTAIN HOPE
Luke 9:27
Now I get questions about this verse all the time.
Someone will be reading through one of the gospels and read this verse and then call me and say, “What in the world did Jesus mean?”
The answer is simple: Keep Reading
Next is the Transfiguration where 3 of the apostles
Did in fact see the glory of Christ before their death.
But there is more going on here than just that.
What you ALSO MUST SEE by Jesus statement is this:
1) THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS REAL
Salvation is real
Jesus endorses that the kingdom is real
And that some will see it even before they die.
This call of Jesus is not a call to bling suffering with a fool’s hope.
We aren’t just denying ourselves and following Christ
And hoping that He isn’t pulling our leg about salvation.
THE KINGDOM IS REAL – HEAVEN IS REAL – SALVATION IS REAL
In fact, He’s about to show it to 3 disciples ahead of time.
Jesus has promised that
• If you will deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow Him, you will enter the kingdom of heaven.
• If you will lose this life for His sake, you will find it.
There is no profit in keeping this world and forsaking eternity,
But there is tremendous profit in forsaking this world for eternity.
This is real, this absolute.
First, see that.
2) NOT EVERYONE WHO FOLLOWS WILL IN FACT FACE THE PENALTY OF DEATH
That’s true as well isn’t it?
Not every Christian dies the painful death of a martyr.
• Not every Christian actually has to leave their father and mother
• Not every Christian has to leave the family business
• Not every Christian has to give up all their possessions
• Not every Christian suffers physical persecution or martyrdom
WE KNOW THAT TOO.
Remember the conversation with Jesus and Peter after the resurrection?
John 21:18-23 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!” Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
Peter WAS facing death, John WAS NOT facing immediate death.
John was going to live to an old age before he was killed.
We often speak of the Rich Young Ruler and how Jesus told him to give up ALL that he owned.
But what about Zaccheus?
Luke 19:8-10 “Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The DISCIPLES HAD TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES and their homes to follow Jesus, but do you REMEMBER THE DEMONIAC?
Mark 5:18-19 “As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”
AND HERE’S THE POINT
Jesus asks everyone to forsake it all and follow Him,
Even though He may not actually require all of that from everyone.
But you still have to offer it.
Picture it like the men and women who sign up for the military.
They all, at the time they enlist, MUST FACE THE REALITY of separation, of injury, and of death.
• Will they all get injured? No
• Will they all die? No
• They won’t all even be sent overseas.
But every one of them signs up for that when they enlist.
And this is the truth regarding following Christ.
One last passage to consider before we close:
TURN TO: LUKE 14:25-35
• Notice here that Jesus is NOT simply addressing the disciples here.
• He is speaking to “large crowds”
And Jesus reminds them of the very same cost involved.
• Will everyone find animosity with their father and mother for following? No, but some will.
• Will everyone find animosity with their wife for following? No, but some will.
• Will everyone find animosity with their siblings for following? No, but some will.
• Will everyone die or following Jesus? No, but some will.
And you have to sign up for that before you follow.
Which is why Jesus tells us to count the cost.
In fact, in verse 33 He says, “So then, none of you can be My disciples who does not give up all his own possessions.”
Is that true? YES
Jesus might give it back or tell you to hold on to it or like the demoniac just tell you to go home for the time being, but you can’t sign up while withholding.
And that explains that parable at the end (34-35)
WHAT GOOD IS TASTELESS SALT?
• About as good as someone who wants to follow Jesus but unwilling to forsake this life to do so. (Do you hear Him?)
And there is the simple reality.
It is a costly decision to follow Jesus, WHY SHOULD YOU DO IT?
• Because otherwise you will go to hell
• Because saving your life won’t be worth it in hell
• Because when Jesus returns He will send to hell all who don’t follow Him
• Because heaven is real for all who do follow.
SO, CHOOSE CHRIST.
“deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him.”
