Count the Cost of Following Christ

Last night, I went to see a movie with my husband called The Time Traveler's Wife. This movie had been intriguing to me, but not particularly one that I "had to see" at the movie theater. It was the only movie that was playing within the right timeframe of our date night, so we bought the tickets and began to watch. As the movie played, it was different from other movies I have seen in the past in that it had so many qualities that were also part of scripture (not the time traveling part), but the foreknowledge that this man had of his own life (prophecy), but he was often reluctant to share with his family (including the timing/events leading up to his own death). He would often be gone throughout the movie during key moments in this couple's life together, including holidays and their own wedding night. He was in and out of her life constantly, and yet he could not fully control when or how this was going to happen. Although purely science fiction, I began to realize a couple of major points regarding God and my own life.

1.) God is not restricted by the limitations of time and space, and also has foreknowledge of ALL events to come in our lives, even if He doesn't always share the details with us.

2.) By following a call (special distinction) in our own lives, we can often be pulled away from our families and those things which seem most important to us. I am sure there are many pastors who have been pulled away from holiday dinners and even special moments with a spouse to do God's work.

3.) Sometimes, receiving foreknowledge of the events of others, or ourselves, will only cause us to needlessly worry about the coming future --but at times, it allows us to prepare for coming hardships.

4.) When we enter into a unique relationship with something that is not bound by space and time (God), we must realize that this will forever change our lives, and we must "count the cost" of the relationship we intend to keep.

5.) Once this relationship and life of walking with God is accepted -- we must find joy in the daily activities set before us, and realize that there will be tribulations and frustrations, but we have ultimately already decided to continue on this journey.

I was thinking about this movie and couldn't even sleep last night...I felt that God had something He wanted to teach me, and even speak to others through me. I just kept praying, but I kept thinking about all the words of knowledge that God has given me over the years about my own life, and the lives of others. At times, He wants me to speak it to them for encouragement (to let them know He sees them/hears them/knows their lives), but other times....He has given me supernatural knowledge about someone's life and told me NOT to tell them. I believe these are the times when I am just supposed to know the information and pray over it. Some of these "bits" of knowledge have been quite hard to know, and I believe the Lord trusts me with His divine revelation because I am constantly learning about when to share/when not to share these pearls. I began to think about some personal revelations the Lord has given me about my own life, even events to come in the very near future, and I began to pray over my husband and children in the middle of the night. As I began to pray, any anxiety I had, any worrisome thought over what God has told me just seemed to be replaced by this sweet PEACE that only God can bring. As I was praying, the Lord spoke to my heart and said "Luke 14." So, as I turned to this chapter and read, the Lord began to show me something phenomenal about the tie between the concept of this movie and my own personal walk with Him. This is the scripture that stood out to me:

Luke 14:25-33 (NKJV):

"Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 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."

What I believe God is saying here is that when you start the race, entering into a relationship with God and surrendering your will to His, COUNT THE COST of what you are entering into. It is not a casual relationship where you have the grace of salvation and then take every opportunity to ignore God's principles and His commandments, or even feel they are unnecessary to follow in your life. God is saying that anyone who is not willing to give up everything to be in a love relationship with Christ is not worthy of being His disciple. It is a hard, but true teaching. I remember the day when God was speaking to me in prayer and asked me, "would you be willing to die for me (not spiritually, but physically)? He continued by asking "will your surrender your children to me, so that I might choose your path in life, even if it means that they will be raised without you?" He kept asking questions like this of me for a couple of months, and one by one, I answered them with a definite YES. I surrender all to you Lord. After all, He had saved me from a life of total destruction and being spiritually destitute, and I had nothing left to hang onto in my life. I have found though, that as time passes, and I become more comfortable in my walk with God....I have to return to these questions and keep answering them with a definite YES. My life is good now. I have a husband, two beautiful children and more on the way...what would ever make me want to leave this life on earth? There is only one answer to that question...when I counted the cost in the beginning of my relationship with Christ, I surrendered my will to His, and ultimately I want to be with Him above all. Even if things are better now, I have to uphold my end of the committment, and my heart has not changed in this respect. I will go where the Lord wants me to go, do what He wants me to do, follow His commands....even if it means giving up my own life (both daily and physically). This is the cross that I bear in following Him. What's YOUR cross, and are you bearing it, or trying to get out from under its heavy weight?

Let Christ help you to bear your cross, He says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30)," even when it doesn't feel that way.

Have you counted the cost of following Christ today? If you truly want to be His disciple, this is a necessary step before entering into a fully surrendered relationship with Him. You must be willing to give up your own life to accept the life He has for you. But let me tell you, the exchange of your life for His will never be something you regret.

I pray in Jesus' name that God will bless you with faith to surrender all to Him upon the hearing of His Word. May He open the doors of heaven to you if you are willing to count the cost of being His disciple and allow Him to live through you. May your reward be great in heaven for giving all and bearing your cross in His name.

Thankful to be His,

Sarah