April 28, 2012 I absolutely despise shopping for a new car. You never know if you got a good deal or not. This uncertainty arises from the lack of proper pricing. Everyone knows that the sticker price is not the real price. I feel that too often individuals try to apply the ideal of getting a good deal to becoming a Christian. Some people seem to be most interested in knowing what is the very least that they will have to commit to Christ in order to become a Christian. This question reveals a great misunderstanding about the Christian life. Bargaining with God reveals a total misunderstanding of God’s nature. Becoming a Christian is nothing like purchasing fire insurance to keep yourself out of the fires of hell. Instead becoming a Christian is accepting your own moral bankruptcy and God’s absolute grandeur and awesomeness. A deep and desperate desire to know God while simultaneously realizing your own moral corruption precede the decision to accept Christ as Savior. Jesus told us that ; “. . . the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46 (ESV) Our own salvation is worth everything we have. Actually it is worth all we have ever had, currently have and ever hope to have. Anyone who is considering becoming a Christian needs to understand the following key principles. First, be clear on who the boss will be. Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them He 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. Luke 14:25-26 Jesus is the boss! His will is most important! Only His vote counts! Every disciple who is obedient must submit to His will 100% of the time. The idea that one can follow Jesus while “doing their own thing” is not only wrong-headed it is a sin. Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood the commitment necessary from each disciple when he wrote, “When Jesus bids a man he bids him come and die.” Second, be certain that you must carry a cross. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 Being obedient will not be easy, and will involve personal sacrifices. You will lose many things while following Jesus. You may lose family, friends, respect, or business. Some today in Islamic countries lose their life when they accept Christ. Suffering for Christ is not a topic you hear Christians discuss often but it is biblical. Reading the book of 1 Peter is an excellent place to begin to study the concept of Christian suffering. Next, be sensible and consider the cost of becoming Christ’s disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up every thing he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:28-33 The price of becoming a disciple is everything. That is a high price. The gain you receive is everything, that is a great return on your investment. You give everything you have and in return you share in everything Christ has. Personally I cannot think of a better deal. Finally, consider the cost of not becoming a disciple. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 14:34-35 Do you have ears to hear? On first blush it seems that the price of not becoming a disciple is nothing. That is a low price. The gain you receive is nothing, that’s no return because there was no investment. You give nothing and in return you share nothing with Christ. The logic seems sound. Unfortunately, on the day of judgment instead of sharing in the riches of Christ you will share in the punishment of the devil. Talk about sticker shock. It does not take a genius to realize that this is definitely not a good deal.