Luke 14:28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Don’t you sit down and estimate the cost, to see if you have enough capital to complete it? 29 If you don’t, then when you have laid the foundation but can’t finish, all the onlookers start making fun of you 30 and say, ‘This is the man who began to build, but couldn’t finish!’
31 “Or again, suppose one king is going out to wage war with another king. Doesn’t he first sit down and consider whether he, with his ten thousand troops, has enough strength to meet the other one, who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he hasn’t, then while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation to inquire about terms for peace.
33 “So every one of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has cannot be my talmid.
What exactly have you signed up for?
Do you even know?
If we were to sit down and have a conversation I’d bet you’d stumble just a few sentences in. I know I would.
Why is it that when a new believer comes into the Kingdom, we do our best to minimize the cost? Is it because we’re afraid they may get scared off and not join? Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so. In fact, we’re probably doing them a great service.
Having people really know what they’ve gotten into would ensure they don’t run the other way when they get a spiritual papercut. They wouldn’t become lukewarm and ineffective believers that lazily walk out their faith one day a week (at best). They wouldn’t be cultural believers that oftentimes give the Kingdom a bad rep.
No, they’d sit and study. They’d map out the rest of their days in light of what really matters. They would look in the mirror and see what has to change. No excuses. They’re all in. Because they know beyond a shadow of a doubt why they’re here. And that truth alone is enough fuel to burn for all of time.
Imagine how much more power the Bride would have if everyone knew exactly what was going on. Think about how different your life and everyone else’s life would be if 20% of the believers in the world knew why they believed -- and what they should be doing about it.
So what is the true cost of discipleship?
Simple: Everything. Absolutely everything.
And every person that signs on that dotted line needs to understand this. To walk in the Kingdom, it will take more of you than you can begin to fathom. More faith, more belief, more obedience than you even know.
But boy, is it worth it!
They say you get what you pay for. They also say, what you give is what you get. If you want your life, you should give your life away. Even trade.
It’s just the life you get by giving this one away is infinitely greater than anything you can comprehend. It’s not even a fair comparison. Apples and oranges. Actually, gold and weeds. And this is what needs to be described to that brand new believer. It needs to be described to us.
Have you truly counted the cost?
Do you know what is expected of you right now, today?
Have you only put down a foundation and now everyone is (secretly) making fun of you? Are you marching to war with half the number of troops you need to engage in battle?
If so, do you have any idea how embarrassing this is all going to be? Should you send the peace party instead?
It’s time to enter into full understanding. It is mathematically impossible to give yourself to the Kingdom and even have one toe in the world. It’s an all or nothing situation.
The trade is ALL of you in exchange for ALL of you.
Those little tugs you get with the temptations of the world are there to test you to see whether you have given it all up. Sure the Adversary is tempting you with those things but you’ve counted the cost, remember?
Saying no to temptation is actually an incredibly easy decision. If you know what you’re saying yes to. It‘s when you don’t know that temptation rules your life.
Next time you get tempted, think about this. Think, think, think. If you really knew what was going on in real life you’d laugh in its face.
We’ve reached the point where excuses are no longer acceptable. It’s time. It’s time to go into your private space and draw up your battle plan. Get the drawing out for your tower and study it intensely.
Get your troops counted and make sure you have all of your materials to start building.
Let’s become a disciple.