Counting the Cost

Often times people hesitate about coming to Christ because they are afraid of losing something. The disciples hear Jesus say something so amazing that it causes them to question the very act of salvation. Who then can be saved? Where Jesus reminds them “that with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible”

This causes Peter to reply We have left everything and followed you. What then will be have?

This is a question today what will I have if I follow Christ! Peter James and John and Peters brother Andrew were fisherman.Matthew was a tax collector. The others had lives before meeting Jesus. His statement pertaining to the rich young ruler saying its easier for a camel to enter eye of a needle that a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

First we need to handle the very statement of the camel and the eye of a needle. Everyone here knows this is impossible in the natural.

Camels are very large animals. The Bactrian camel is 10 to 11.5 feet long, 5.2 to 5.9 feet tall at shoulder height, and weighs 990 to 1,100 pounds. Meanwhile, the dromedary camel is 7.2 to 11.2 feet long, 5.9 to 6.6 feet tall at the shoulder height, and weighs 880 to 1,320 pounds.

The eye of a needle The phrase “eye of a needle” is used as a metaphor for a very narrow opening. It occurs in all three synoptics.

“it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”

In general, the phrase is used to emphasize the difficulty of achieving something that seems impossible or very difficult to achieve. "Jesus' words in Matthew 19:24 (also Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25), that it is easier for a rich man to enter [the kingdom of] heaven than 'for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,' reflect an idea found in early rabbinic writing . . . The statement simply means that humanly speaking, this is an impossible thing. Only a divine miracle can make it possible" (ibid.).

It appears that Christ's words must be taken literally. Just as it is impossible for a camel to go through the tiny eye of a needle, it is equally impossible for those who trust in riches, instead of in God, to enter the Kingdom of God.

Even for us we can not save ourselves. We must depend on the saving grace of Jesus Christ!

The lessons I see here is first we must depend on the impossibilities of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (Mt 19:24–26).

This is where faith come in. With man that is impossible but with God all things possible. No matter where you are in your life you must believe God has the power to save you!

Now faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen.

Many people feel they are beyond redemption! They feel they have done too much gone too far to be save. Yet we know Jesus saves to the uttermost!

This is a message we must take to the world. Jesus is able and willing to save you! Imagine that message taken to the hopeless and the down trodden. What about the marginalize. There are people right now who believe their only course is the course of destruction they are on.

What if we share Ephesians 2:13 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:13). As a matter a fact go with me to Ephesians 2 Paul said 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. (Eph 2:12–14).

If we could just be honest with folks that look like a impossible task for us to be saved. Many of us had spiraled out of control! BUT GOD! I am so glad that the Lord saved me!

Secondly we must learn to forget those things we have left.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. (Mt 19:29).

As you take this walk with Christ we will be forced to leave people , places and things behind. Peter was concerned as I mentioned. He said we left everything! There will be times when we start counting up the cost of following Jesus. Paul said he count all dung! I simply say each day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before!

The world will try and make you feel some kind of way. Like you missing something. I can tell you you not missing anything. You will find out that stuff does not add up to the relationship you have with Christ! there is a process call sanctification. As you grow in Christ that stuff you left behind will become like images in your rear view mirror. Its get smaller and insignificant until you cant see them anymore.

Finally know that your time is coming

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (Mt 19:30).

This concept is not new to the disciples nor should it be new to us. You may not get all you want down here but if you trust the Lord he has a way of making the last first. The humble will get their due!

In this same chapter Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 19:14).

We learned in our Sunday School reading that things are not as they appear. at the conclusion of 52 we read

Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;

He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.

14 Just as many were astonished at you,

So His visage was marred more than any man,

And His form more than the sons of men;

15 So shall He sprinkle many nations.

Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;

For what had not been told them they shall see,

And what they had not heard they shall consider.

That’s translated as 13 See, my servant will prosper;

he will be highly exalted.

14 But many were amazed when they saw him.

His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human,

and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. (Is 52:13–14).

Chapter 53 said,

Who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,

And as a root out of dry ground.

He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

3 He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,

And who will declare His generation?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

9 And they made His grave with the wicked—

But with the rich at His death,

Because He had done no violence,

Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief.

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,

And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,

Because He poured out His soul unto death,

And He was numbered with the transgressors,

And He bore the sin of many,

The New King James Version. (1982). (Is 53:1–12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.