(Kent Heaton)

Gas is not any cheaper these days and climbing higher by the minute. Having filled up my tank and commenting on the amount of money it takes to fill it up, we concluded (the clerk and I) that no matter how much it goes up, we continue to pay. The option of walking does not sound appealing and riding a horse would work but not that appealing either. We have these machines that require petrol to make them move and so we pay what is at the pump. We don't like it and we complain but we pay.

This speaks to the nature of man who is willing to pay whatever it takes to make life comfortable. The automobile has become an absolute in our world and to live without one would be difficult to conceive. Our society is based upon the power of transportation to get from one point to another. We want it done quickly, coolly (or heated - which ever the case may be) and with a certain level of comfort. Anything less is unacceptable.

We complained years ago when the price of gasoline went over a dollar. We complained the whole time we pulled our cars up to the pump and filled it up. When is the last time you saw gas less than a dollar? Passing the two-dollar mark will be the same - we drive, we pay. A willingness to pay whatever price to attain what we want is all too familiar in our affairs of the world - yet lacking greatly in our spiritual world.

Jesus taught that discipleship would carry a cost. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26,27)

Many are unwilling to pay such a high cost to attain eternal life. To be a disciple of Christ is to put first the pursuit of spiritual matters. Our families cannot be more important than our eternal reward. Those who come to Christ must do so without the natural affection of first place normally given of family. The life of the disciple is found in seeking first the kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33)

It is common to hear songs of praise given unto Jesus for bearing the cost of the cross for our sins. The cross of Jesus was borne with love, suffering, endurance, patience, joy and the willingness to serve the Father's will. How much of a cost can we expect of our Savior and He not expect for us to share in that same burden? Too many have chosen to bear the padded cross or the cross that is lightest to bear. Cross-bearing is the essence of the life of the Christian and if one is not willing to pay the cost, salvation cannot be attained.

In Matthew 19, a young man came to Jesus seeking the answer to eternal life. When told what to do, "he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions." (vv16-22) The cost was high and while he longed for eternal life, he was unwilling to pay the price. It may have been in his business dealings that he would have to pay more to attain some particular item - a vase for example. He may have found a vase that he wanted and was willing to pay as much money as necessary to attain it. When faced with the cost of being a disciple of Christ, he was unwilling to pay.

We are willing to pay whatever it cost to attain that which is most precious to us. The power of discipleship is found in our desire to please the Father - at any cost. Paul wrote about the price he paid to be a disciple of Christ in Philippians 3:7-11: "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

Paul was willing to pay a high price to follow Christ. He suffered the loss of his earthly honor and power to possess the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus ... to win Christ ... be found in Him ... to know Him ... to know the power of His resurrection ... to know the fellowship of Christ's sufferings ... to attain unto the resurrection of His death. It took giving all of this up to secure "a crown of righteousness." (2 Timothy 4:8)

Jesus teaches the need of showing those who desire to follow Him the cost of making that decision. When we fail to admonish those who are seeking eternal life the price of service to Christ, we fail to teach the whole counsel of God. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, `This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:28-33)

There are many reasons why a person will serve the Lord for a time and then return to the world of sin. The parable of the sower explains the different levels of the heart and how the word of God is received by different people. (Matthew 13) One of the reasons that we can find in Jesus' teaching of Luke 14 is the failure to count the cost before seeking discipleship. An evaluation must first be made if one is willing to pay the price exacted by service to the Lord. Service to Jesus Christ demands our whole being: "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment." (Mark 12:30) There is nothing left when we love the Lord with our "ALL." Loving the Lord is a willingness to obey the Lord. "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15; See also John 14:21; 15:10; 1 John 5:2,3; 2 John 6)

Naaman counted the cost of cleansing his body of leprosy and was unwilling to dip seven times in the Jordan river. When his servants came to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, `Wash, and be clean'?" - Naaman went and paid the cost and was cleansed. (2 Kings 5) Until the cost was paid, he remained a leper.

Many today are unwilling to pay the cost of being baptized for the remission of sins, choosing rather to believe that salvation comes of faith alone. Until the price is paid, salvation is not possible. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 shows the necessity of working in the kingdom to be found faithful when our Lord returns. If we shrink back in fear and do nothing with our talents, we will be cast into outer darkness.

The discipleship of Christ is pictured as working in a vineyard. (Matthew 20) A price is paid to work in the vineyard and the aim of that work is for the benefit of the Lord of the vineyard. Working in the vineyard of the Lord takes time, effort, diligence, patience, endurance - a willingness to pay whatever the price for the Lord of the vineyard.

The discipleship of Christ is pictured as being part of a great army. (Ephesians 6) When one enters the military, a price is paid as life is changed dramatically in every way. Entrance into the ranks of God's army is one of diligence and allegiance to the King we serve and life is never the same - a price is paid! "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops." (2 Timothy 2:3-6)

We are willing to pay the price for a tank of gasoline - almost at any cost - to enjoy the use of our automobiles. The cost of our comfortable lifestyle is paid daily as we enjoy the fine things of life. If we - willing to pay so much to secure a comfortable life here - are unwilling to pay the price of being a disciple of Christ - for a life of comfort in the eternal realm - then we have lost all. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)