If someone wants to build a house and "he lays the foundation
and is not able to finish it, everyone .. will ridicule him,
saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"
1*.
Why did Jesus use this illustration when He was speaking to people
who wanted to become His disciples?
I hope you know that it doesn't cost you anything to
become a true Christian. To have your sins forgiven and be made
a child of God is an absolutely free gift , but you need to
claim it by faith in Jesus Christ. 2*. The cost of making this possible was fully
paid by God's Son, Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection for
the sins of the world. 3*.
When a person chooses to trust in Jesus as his only Priest and
Saviour it is very likely that most of the people around him will
not share his new "faith". If family and friends have their
faith in good works, or in the priests and sacraments of their
religion, they will not want to believe that faith in Jesus is the
only way to God. 4*. They will be offended because this "born-again
Christian" doesn't trust in the priests and the sacraments and the
religion that they love and respect. They may even become very
angry and abusive towards the true Christian. 5*.
So, although it doesn't cost you to become a true Christian,
it can cost you a lot to be a true Christian! Are you
prepared to be a follower of Jesus even if it means offending
family and friends; knowing that you might be treated unkindly and
even despised by them? 6*.
Those who refuse to put their faith in Jesus Christ alone because
it might offend family or friends are showing that they would
rather offend and reject Jesus, the One who gave His life for
them! 7*.
If you think that becoming a true Christian would be offensive to
the religion of your mother and your family you have to decide
which side you are going to offend - your mother or God?
That explains why Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me and does not
hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and
sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be My disciple. And
anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be My
disciple." 8*.
For those who would rather offend the great God and Saviour it will
most certainly be very costly! They will have to be "thrown
out" by God, and will have to suffer His eternal judgment in Hell.
9*. That is a payment
they will NEVER complete!
Jesus went on to suggest that His true followers would be like
salt! Salt was used to keep meat from being ruined by decay. So,
Jesus' followers, by speaking the truth in love, can help to
prevent people's lives and souls from being ruined by false
teachings. Salt was also used as seasoning to make food more
desirable. And, the true Christians, by their "good living", can
make true Christianity attractive and desirable to others.
10*.
Read Jesus' teachings about these things in Luke chapter 14, verses
25-35.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 Luke
14:28-30.
2 See Romans 3:21-26.
Titus 3:4-7.
3 1st Peter 3:18.
4 John 14:6. Acts 4:12.
Hebrews 7:24-27.
5 See Matthew
10:34-39.
6 See Matthew 5:10-12. 2nd
Timothy 3:12.
7 Romans 5:6-8. 1st John
4:9-10.
8 Luke 14:26-27.
9 Luke 14:34-35.
Revelation 20:11-15.
10See Matthew 5:13-16.
Psalm 40:1-3.
