JESUS SPEAKING
“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, doesn’t 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 but was not able to finish?’” (Luke 14: 27 – 30.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
Following Jesus Christ isn’t easy; it requires great sacrifice and tremendous discipline. Uncomfortable changes are required. Every believer is called to abandon sin and embrace a life of selflessness and service. Those considering the Christian life must “sit down first and count the cost.” They must forsake drunkenness, fornication, pornography and adultery; lewdness and idolatry must be discarded as well. Gossip, foul language, dirty humor, and selfishness are sacrificed in favor of purity, love, mercy, truth, and selflessness. Many, who commit to following the Lord, are unable to finish their journey; unfortunately they abandon God’s call and return to their old lives.
The longest Bridge in the world is the Danyang—Kunshan Grand Bridge in mainland China. The bridge took four years to build and cost 8.5 billion dollars. As it snakes over rice patties, lowlands, and rivers, it measures a whopping 102 miles in length. Bridges are amazing feats of engineering; some are large, some are small, but all of them serve one common purpose; they connect two portions of land divided by an obstacle. Although these structures are quite useful, an unfinished bridge is of no value whatsoever. Ninety percent of a bridge is as useful as ten percent of a bridge; in order to be valuable, it must be complete. Much like a bridge, the life of the believer is useless unless it is completed (Before dying on the cross Jesus Christ uttered the words, “It is finished.”) Throughout the centuries there have been many genuine disciples; individuals who (like Jesus), died knowing that they had kept the faith until the very end. Sadly, many more have been unable to complete the journey.
In proverbs Chapter 20, verse 25, we read, “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows.” If you have never made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, then you must not do so rashly. First you must consider fully what God is asking from you. He is asking you to lay down your sins and embrace a life of purity; you must devote your entire existence to serving and loving others. For those who commit themselves to transformation (rebirth), the road is not easy. There are no points for half-way. Once the journey has begun it must be finished. Only then will we enter God’s eternal kingdom; only then will we know unending peace.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we have begun our journey with You. We have laid down our worldly ways and have embraced purity and love. May we continue moving forward and may we never falter. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit; empower us to complete what we have started, that we might one day enter Your kingdom. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 