Count the Cost

What price are we willing to pay?

Many of us are bargain hunters, looking for the greatest value, the most bang for the buck. Trying to stretch a dollar as far as it can go, pinching pennies till Lincoln's nose bleeds, we get good at recognizing a great price when we run across one.

What better value can there be than a vital, life-saving option, without which death is a certainty, available for free? Something which is beyond price, a solution for which people would gladly give all they have just to gain this one thing, made available without cost is a dream come true.

Romans 3:24 They receive God's approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free [from sin]. 

The salvation that Jesus paid for with His life's blood is given freely to all who will believe and accept. Who could argue with that? But some do. Some chose to ignore it, some deny it, some reject it. Why? They each have their reasons, but it basically boils down to the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. What price are they willing to pay for what they choose to keep?

1 John 2
v.16 Not everything that the world offers-physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles-comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and
v.17 the world and its evil desires are passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever.

Once we have accepted God's grace that brings salvation and have settled in to the promise of eternal life, we begin to understand that there is more available. There is peace of mind beyond understanding, there is healing that medical personnel cannot provide, there is victory over life's struggles in areas of our weaknesses that goes beyond what our strength is capable of achieving. What does it cost? Are you willing to pay the price? Is it of more value to you than what you are asked to give up in return?

Reading the Word of God before the newspaper, calling on God before calling a friend, listening to the Spirit of God speak to your heart before relying on what you hear from the TV or radio is a choice that calls for a change in priorities. But the promises God gives us when we do this tell us what kind of value we will receive in return. 

2 Corinthians 9:15 I thank God for His gift that words cannot describe.

As we begin to walk in God's Spirit and draw closer to Him in consecration of our life, giving Him areas of our life that we have previously kept for ourselves, we find that we are starting to face battles that we never had to deal with before. Battles in our thoughts and desires, circumstances piling up against us, sometimes direct onslaughts of illness, accident, loss of relationship, finance, property or goods. Is this a greater price than we bargained for? Is the value received great enough to cover the cost of what we are facing? That depends on where your treasure is. If it is on the earth then, no, at some point, it will be too much to pay, too much to give up, too much to sacrifice with so little to show for it in the material realm.

Colossians 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.

If you have set your eyes on the things of the earth, your first love will fade and grow cold. If you keep your eyes on Christ, if you keep the things He has done, and is still doing, in your life fresh before you, if you stir up within you the desire to read the Word and to talk to God and to hear the Spirit and to walk in obedience and give praise and thanks to the One who has done so much already, then you will find yourself in possession of the riches of heaven, the power of God evident in your life, the forces coming against you scattered and helpless against God's Word which comes alive in your heart and mind, permeating your life and making a difference not only for you but for others around you. You become an over-comer.

Matthew 6
v.19 "Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. 
v.20 Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don't destroy and thieves don't break in and steal. 
v.21 Your heart will be where your treasure is.

How much are you willing to give up of that which you cannot keep, in order to gain that which you cannot lose?

Father God, You have told us that this world will not last, but that Your promises will. What You have said You would do, You have already done and nothing can change it. You have paid our way and provided everything we need, Lord. We simply need to turn our affections, our hearts, our desires from that which feeds upon us, draining and devouring us, to the One who loves us, lifts us, and restores life, and the means to enjoy life, to us, the One Who promised us life and life more abundantly. You were willing to pay the ultimate price to allow us to live with You, Jesus. We are willing to pay all that You ask of us, knowing that we have nothing You need, except our loving fellowship. We give You praise for You have earned it.

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