“Do you follow Jesus this close?”

Remember those bumper stickers? They were quite popular a number years ago. The intent was the message was clear: “You’re driving too close to my bumper and I’d like you to back off.”

It was a subtle jab at people while using Jesus’ good name. I supposed one could argue it was a slight against Christians (and you wouldn’t get an argument from me).

But the question it raised is one we don’t ask enough. Not today. Not for the majority of sinners who come to Christ and ‘believe.’

Do you really want to follow Jesus? Do you even know what that means?

“Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24, emphasis mine).

In Jesus’ time, everyone knew what ‘take up his cross’ meant. The Romans crucified men, women, and children for various crimes and offenses. And they did it anywhere and everywhere they could. In Jerusalem, along the main roads, and in many towns throughout the countryside.

A person hanging on a cross would often take days to die, exposed to the elements, naked, and struggling for every breath, and people would walk by as they hung. The Romans strategically placed these crucifixions in well-traveled areas.

So, when Jesus called His disciples to take up their cross, He was inviting them to be willing to die in the most excruciating and humiliating way, just to follow Him.
Because He was going to die that way.

If you want to take a walk with Christ, if you truly desire to follow Him, it starts by understanding the cost.

Sure, there are plenty of professing Christians and teachers who tell you salvation is a ‘free gift’ (“Just pray this prayer and receive the free gift of salvation!”), but where does it actually say that in Scripture?

Go find it. Romans 6:23 is incorrect in some Bible translations where it says, “but the free gift of salvation…”

In Paul’s original letter to the believers in Rome, he never used the word ‘free’ in that passage.

Salvation is a gift, yes. But it’s not free. There is a cost. There is a condition that must be met to receive it. (We’ll get into that in a different issue.)

To follow Christ, you must repent. You must turn from your sin and (in doing so) turn toward God.

And you must be willing to lose everything for your faith.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46).

Jesus repeatedly admonishes those who wish to follow Him that it is costly.
You can’t simply ‘accept Jesus into your heart.’ You don’t merely pray some lukewarm prayer and think His righteousness has now been imputed to you.

He bought salvation with His blood. Brutally. It cost Him more than any of us can fathom. Don’t take it lightly.

The world is a dark place and it’s getting darker by the day. Jesus warned us that it would be worse as His return approaches.

And His coming is fast approaching.

Now is the time to make a decision. ‘Christian’ or seeker, if you never considered or counted the cost of following Jesus, it’s time you did.

Take a walk with Him. He’s inviting you and it’s worth everything you give up… or lose.
It truly is.