THE COST OF THE CALL

I wonder how many people truly understand the cost of the call of following God.

We understand enough to say it costs everything and then we respond that it is okay. But my question is — do we really understand or mean that we are willing to give up all to follow the call? Do we really understand both the cost and when we say ‘yes, we will follow’, do we really mean what we say?

For some reason I think that we do not understand the cost. And secondly, when we say we will pay the price, what we mean and what God means are two different things altogether. Today I want to take you on a journey through Scripture that will hopefully shed some new light on the subject that will help your walk. We will be going step by step through Mark 10: 17-31

Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

We know from the cross reference in Luke 18:18 that this young man was not only rich but a ruler as well. But in spite of his position we see in verse 17 that he came running. This was a sign of humility. He came earnestly seeking a conversation with Jesus. He had the opportunity to consult in matters of true life and did so out in the open. He did not have to seek a private meeting. He wanted answers.

He had the first part correct for he came when he was afforded the opportunity. He ran seeking the truth. It was obviously important to him. He knelt out of respect for Jesus with a desire to be taught truth. His question went straight to the point — he did not play fifty questions but addressed the issue of eternal life. Think about it — he did not ask how to live here but how to have eternal life.

18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

The young man had no trouble truthfully making such a claim. Unfortunately his righteousness was that of external obedience. It was the same righteousness that the scribes and Pharisees operated in. The young ruler had so much in his life that was right, so much going for him, but he lacked the most important thing needed to be a follower of Jesus. We will talk about the missing part a little further on.

I wonder about today. The young man thought he had it all together. What about us? Do we fall into the trap of thinking we have it more together than we really do? We understand that we are not under the law but under God’s grace and mercy but sometimes it is good to take a look at the law and see how we are doing. The law exposes the sin we are walking in and as the truth is known, we must make the correction and run back into God’s grace and mercy. In the light of the law — how are you doing?

Are we as spiritual as we tell ourselves? Are there things in our lives that the law would expose? How is our heart? How do we look at others? Are there lies we buy into or sin that causes us to come to certain conclusions that are wrong? Do we make the conscious choice to try and look at all situations through God’s eyes or do ignore His reality?

I often wonder how many things we build our life, our identity, even our beliefs and our ways of looking at things around that do not line up with God. I am probably even more concerned that we justify so many wrong behaviours or actions in our lives as though we are right and others are wrong. In some people, the whole thought pattern or the way they process the things they do is flawed. Maybe some people are afraid to look at themselves. I would much rather look carefully today than wait till judgment day — for then it is too late to bring correction. In the last part of verse 20, the young ruler claims he has observed all of the commands from his youth. Have you ever wondered how many things we may observe and try to hard to keep, yet miss out on what is really important?

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Jesus looked into him. He was searching the man’s heart. As Jesus searched his heart He probably saw the potential this man had to do many things for the kingdom of God. He no doubt could look into the future and see what could be accomplished if this young man would truly respond to the opportunities that he would have if he truly gave his all.

Can you imagine the love of Jesus being poured out at that time? Jesus then went to the very heart of the man’s problems. The man had more devotion to or even confidence in money than he had to God. For him to truly follow God, he had to remove the obstacle — the love of money. The earthly resources he had could in no way save him. The only way for him to gain eternal life would be to identify with Jesus in every area, not just the areas he chose. The missing part in this story was identified as putting trust in things rather than in God. Is it any different today? Do we say we want to identify with Jesus, but do we have areas that disqualify us? In your spiritual journey, are you learning to lean on Jesus in every way or are you leaning on your own works? What about your resources? Is Jesus truly Lord of them? Don’t answer too quickly. What if Jesus dropped into your home tonight and said that for you to follow Him you would have to give away everything of value. How would you respond?

The things that disqualify can be more than money. They could be any area that you will not surrender. Any area that you will not surrender will take you down a different path than what God wants in your life. Let’s look at verse 21 again. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. The steps were simple: sell everything and then give it all away. As he was obedient then the promised treasures in heaven will come. But what about you today, right now?

What did Jesus say was the next step this man needed to take? Take up the cross and follow me. There was no talking about how this life would turn out. There was no discussion of where they would go or really what they would do. Jesus did not lay out a five year or ten year plan. He did not say that if the young man did this in two years, then this would happen and after five this other would happen. It was real simple — et rid of all your earthly entanglements, sell them and give them away and come and follow.

Could the young man truly respond and somehow find it in his heart to pay the price of responding to the call of being a disciple of Christ? Could he really trust Jesus for his needs here on earth as well as depend upon Him for a recompense in heaven?

Jesus put it to him very simply but straight forward. Did the young man really believe there is true treasure in heaven to make up for all he had to leave or give away? Was he willing to trust Christ all the way? Was he willing to pay the price and take the IOU of Jesus? Was the promise or IOU from Jesus enough to cover the cost of what he had to give away? Was it enough so he would leave all things behind and follow Jesus without question?

How many of you really believe we are living in the last days? How confident are you that you are accurate? Do you really believe in the ability of Jesus to fulfill the promise in your life? Let’s continue on with the next verse 22. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

What possessions do you have that stand in the way of you responding to Jesus? You know it does not mean that you have to have tons of money — for even a small amount can be a big hindrance if that is where your security lies. We have talked before about having things tucked away just in case of this or that. Will you pay the price or will you like the young ruler go away grieved? Will you respond and say yes or are there things in your life that have become more important than responding and saying yes to Christ?

Many people have salted away certain amounts of money, just in case of an emergency. Others have hoarded everything from extra food all the way to blankets or things that they have not used in years. Is that what God wants you to do? So many times I hear stories about people storing or hoarding many things for their future or their old age. Many times they never get to use them or the value that they once had is no longer there. It always reminds me of the manna that God supplied in Exodus 16. To refresh your memory, let’s just touch very briefly on what went on with the children of Israel and the manna God sent them. Manna appeared with the dew every morning. The children of Israel were instructed to gather only what they would need for the day. They were told that any surplus that was gathered would breed tiny worms and be spoiled. Only on the sixth day could they harvest two days worth for there would be none to gather on the seventh day. If we bring this story to today, what would it mean to you?

Let me ask the question? In your life, is your stash just in case of emergency or is it just in case Jesus does not live up to His part of the bargain? Is it because you really do not put much trust in Who He is and what His Word says? All of your just-in-case reserves, I wonder, what do they do to your spiritual walk? Do they promote faith? Are the dividends mountain-moving, devil-stomping faith? Or do they reduce you to relying on self? Do they keep you out of the promises of God?

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Too often all the things we do so we have all the just-in-cases covered, hinder. They do not spring board us to new levels of God. These types of works are offensive to God.

Now, so there is no confusion, let’s talk about the just-in-cases or perhaps some of you would rather call them rainy day emergency resources. How much is enough? Do we need one month just in case, or do we need two months or five months or six months? Or what about a year or two or five or ten? I am not talking about being stupid, but what do your actions show about your faith and your ability to be Spirit-led? How much of the world and its ways are still in you? How much confidence do you really have in Jesus and His ability to take care of you? Are you a one year man or a one month man? Are you one who would sell most of your things if you had a better guarantee and if you had a five year plan presented from Jesus with the condition you did not have to make the final payment till after He fulfilled His part? Or are you one that would be happy to sell all and follow Jesus.

There is a price to pay for going on in the fullness of God. We must not only die to self and our way of thinking, but we also must learn to truly pick up our cross and follow unconditionally. To follow Jesus unconditionally is life — anything less is a life of disappointments and heartache. Anything less allows the enemy to play with our minds and plant seeds of doubt, seeds of destruction and seeds of compromise.

What is hindering you from turning your face into the wind and saying, "Yes, I choose to go all the way. Lord Jesus, I am willing to pay the price." Are you then actually doing it? Think about it. It is not God Who hinders us from doing it. I would encourage you not to approach giving your all with so much fear. Many fear that God will ask them to do something they can’t do. That has to be one of the most idiotic statements I have ever heard. Think about it — God will enable you to do what ever He calls you to do. Do not even look around at others to see the price they are paying. All we need to know is that for them it is their all.

What we each must go through can be very different. Don’t allow the flesh or the enemy to say you can’t follow through — for there is absolutely no reason why you cannot. Stop playing games. Either Jesus is real and is Who He says and that He is able to follow through or there is no sense in going any further. How can you proclaim or how can you walk in only part of the truth? Get off the fence! Be the person God has called you to be.