Driving across I-77 through Columbia, SC, I grew up looking out my window and seeing some swampy wetlands that could not be built upon. Once, I remarked to my dad how great it would be to live on such an open prairie, but he quickly informed me about the marshy area’s unsuitability for construction. Fast forward about 15 years, and news broke in the local community that a contractor had bought all that land to build a neighborhood hub. After years of litigation, he ultimately had to relinquish the land upon realizing he couldn’t develop a marshy wetland. Despite his initial aggressiveness in acquiring the land and gaining much notoriety, he was left embarrassed, unable to finish what he started. On the one hand, I can admire someone’s zeal and readiness to initiate such a significant project, investing resources I could only dream of. But on the other hand, it reminds me of the wisdom found in counting the cost, as Jesus advised:

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 

26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  

27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—  

29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  

30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? (Luke 14:25-30, NKJV)

Jesus emphasized that following Him requires a life defined by complete and utter devotion. He taught that one’s love for Him should be so profound that it eclipses all other relationships, even those with parents, spouses, children, and siblings. This calls into question the concept of self-sacrifice in Christian belief and challenges individuals to consider whether they are genuinely willing to dedicate themselves to following Jesus.

If Jesus had left it right there, it would appear that people can accept or reject Him as Lord with no future challenges. However, Jesus did not conclude His message by advising individuals to weigh the cost of accepting Him as Christ, implying that one could walk away without consequences. He continued in this manner:

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  

32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.  

33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:31-33)

Suppose a great army was approaching, and you realized you lacked the resources to stand against such a force! Wouldn’t it make sense to do everything in your power to seek conditions of peace from this impending threat? You would aim to make peace, likely accepting whatever terms the more potent force offers. The spiritual parallel here is significant; Jesus is returning to confront those who have opposed Him (Rev. 19:11-21). God has outlined His conditions for peace, Jesus is one day coming in vengeance with His mighty angels (2 Thess. 1:8-9), and I would like to know what those conditions are and how we can accept them (Rom. 3:21-26; 6:1-7, 23). It’s essential to read the Bible and pray to understand this better. The terms Jesus offers are non-negotiable, and rejecting His call to discipleship carries eternal consequences (John 5:25-30). Someday, everyone will recognize His authority (Phil. 2:9-11). Let us humbly accept His terms of peace and embrace the path of discipleship now.