Through our faith in Jesus Christ we are saved, but salvation is more than the gift of forgiveness of our sin and eternal life. Salvation also makes us children of God and heirs with Christ. In addition to all this we are also included as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Does all this really come to us with no cost? Or is there a price that we must be willing to pay if we are to enjoy all the benefits of God’s gift of salvation?
- [57] As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
[58] Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
[59] He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
[60] Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
[61] Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
[62] Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)
Three times Jesus rebukes those who want to follow Him but want to do it on their own terms. It seems that in each case there is a common thread to what Jesus tells these would be followers. COUNT THE COST. Each were welcomed to remain with Jesus and follow Him, but they had to first understand that following Jesus the Messiah and being included in the Kingdom of God would make demands upon them that they must consider.
Jesus is our Savior, but that’s not all. He is also our Lord who rules over His Kingdom. Are we willing to follow Him regardless of the cost? Will we lay down that which is most important to us in order to make Jesus Savior and Lord? Have we cheapened the value of our salvation by saying it is free? What do you think?
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