Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

MAKE IT COUNT THERE IS NO SECOND TIME AROUND

INTRODUCTION:

How can a Christian make his life count?

There is no reincarnation or coming back in another life form.

To avoid tragedy of a wasted life, the Bible counsels every Christian as follows:

COUNT THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST

The terms of discipleship are given in Luke 14:25-35.

Luke 14:25–35 KJV 1900

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

To be a disciple means giving up comforts and earthly security.

It means a life of self-denial.

It means forsaking all to follow the Lord Jesus.

MAKE A DELIBERATE COMMITMENT OF YOUR LIFE TO HIM

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Come to that point of decision where you yield your body a living sacrifice to God.

C.T. Studd once said, "If Jesus Christ is God and died for men, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."

ABANDON YOUR LIFE FOR CHRIST

Matthew 16:25 KJV 1900

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

You should live to please the Lord Jesus Christ and not yourself.

The one who lives selfishly is a miserable, unhappy person.

BURN YOUR BRIDGES BEHIND YOU

Psalm 118:27 KJV 1900

God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, Even unto the horns of the altar.

A life of wholehearted obedience and devotion to your Lord.

Luke 9:23 KJV 1900

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

DON'T BE SIDETRACKED

So many start off well but then they lose the vision and slip back into the old routine.

Galatians 5:7 KJV 1900

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Galatians 5:8 KJV 1900

This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

Luke 9:62 KJV 1900

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

LIVE TO SERVE

Matthew 20:28 KJV 1900

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

True greatness lies in serving others.

Acts 20:35 KJV 1900

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

CROWN HIM LORD OF ALL

If Christ rules in your life, your days will really count for eternity.

It costs nothing to become a Christian but it costs everything to be one.

It is not popularity but persecution: not comfort but a cross.

Why He Traveled Third Class

My dear old friend, Evangelist James McKendrick, I found down among the third-class passengers, just recovering from a serious operation. When asked why he was traveling third-class, he replied: "Because there is no fourth-class." He and his good wife live in the most frugal manner in order to have the more to give to the Lord's cause. What he saved in passage money, I have it on good authority (though he wouldn't tell it), he gave to foreign missions.